One of the most common concerns among parents is when to take their children to the hospital following a head injury. The most crucial thing to do after a child sustains a head injury is to keep a tight eye on them. Some symptoms, such as loss of consciousness, frequent vomiting, dizziness, confusion, or severe headache, indicate that the kid should be taken to the hospital right away.

In other circumstances, the signs are more difficult to detect. If you observe that a child’s behavior has changed following a head injury, you should take him to the hospital. In most circumstances, the child will only cry for a few minutes until the pain fades away. It is always a good idea to monitor them, although it was most likely just a minor head bump.

How to know if a child’s head injury is serious

Head injuries are fairly common in youngsters, especially when they play with other children or participate in sports. The majority of head injuries are minor and do not result in future issues for the youngster. However, when it comes to head traumas, parents must take extra precautions. Some head bumps can worsen over time, necessitating medical attention for the child.

Every year, around 62,000 children are admitted to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to the CDC. Fortunately, the majority of children who visit the emergency room will fully recover from their injuries. However, only a small minority of youngsters will face long-term repercussions.

What are the symptoms of a head injury in a child?

Child head injuries can cause a wide variety of symptoms, some of them are indicators of a severe injury:

• Mild headache
• Swelling around the area where the kid hit their head. 
• Loss of consciousness 
• Repeated vomiting
• Bruises and cuts
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness 
• Confusion
• Memory loss
• Seizures 
• Loss of balance or trouble walking
• Pupils of unequal size or blurred vision
• Weakness or numbness in one arm or leg

How do I know if my child’s head injury is serious?

Severe head injuries require immediate medical attention. Unattended severe head injuries can lead to permanent consequences or even death. If your child is experiencing any of these injuries, it is pertinent to take them to a hospital as soon as possible. 

• Vomiting more than two or three times
• Seizures and convulsions
• Slurred speech 
• Double vision
• Severe headache or headache that gets worse
• Ringing ears or loss of hearing
• Sensitivity to noise 
• Recognizing familiar faces is difficult.
• Unusual behavior 
• Difficulty waking up
• Bleeding from an ear or nose
• Weakness of arms or legs

How long after a head injury can symptoms occur?

Some symptoms arise immediately following the collision. In other circumstances, symptoms may occur after a few hours. Symptoms may appear days, weeks, or even months later in rare cases. The symptoms of most minor injuries might begin immediately after the child hits the head.

Concussions can occur as a result of some accidents. Children who have experienced a concussion may feel dizzy and nauseous within a few minutes of the accident. Because some sports carry a higher risk of concussion than others, this injury is very common in contact sports.

Seizures, vomiting and impaired speech might occur within a few hours of the accident. As a result, vigilant monitoring following a head injury is critical, at least for the first 48 hours. The doctor may request tests to determine the extent of the injury based on the nature of the injury and the symptoms. When there is internal bleeding, a CT scan may be required to determine the source. If the doctor detects a skull fracture, an X-ray may be required.

What are the possible complications of a head injury in a child?

Children who experience serious brain damage may lose muscular, speech, vision, hearing, or taste function. This is determined by the area of the brain that has been injured. Changes in personality or conduct, whether long-term or short-term, may occur. These children will require medical and rehabilitative care for the rest of their lives. Physical, occupational, or speech therapy may be included.

The extent to which a child heals from a brain injury is determined by the type of injury and any other health issues that may be present. It is critical to concentrate on developing your child’s abilities at home, school, and in the community. You may encourage your youngster to develop self-esteem and independence.

When to seek urgent medical care?

If your child begins to exhibit any of the serious head injury symptoms outlined above, you should seek immediate medical attention. Some types of incidents are more likely to result in injuries that necessitate rapid medical attention. Motor vehicle accidents or falling off a bike without a helmet, for example, can result in serious head injuries. As a result, taking them to the hospital as a precaution is reasonable. If your kid was sent to the house after being hospitalized for a head injury but starts to get worse, you must call an ambulance as soon as possible. 

How can I help prevent a head injury in my child?

Completely preventing head injuries is not always possible. Nonetheless, there are some actions we can take that can help reduce the likelihood of a kid suffering a head injury or minimize the consequences. 

• Parents must make sure that their kids are always wearing seatbelts when riding a vehicle. If the child requires a child restraint system, parents must ensure that the equipment is appropriate for their age, height, and weight. 
• Kids that practice contact sports must wear the necessary protective equipment. Coaches must teach kids that they need to be careful with head injuries. They have to enforce correct sporting techniques to prevent injuries. 
• Kids riding bikes, skateboards, or roller skates must always wear helmets.

In some cases, even after following every possible recommendation, some injuries are caused by someone else’s negligence or a defective product. In cases like these, it is necessary to seek legal assistance. A head injury can be a traumatic experience for you and your child. The medical expenses can be very costly as well. At Greenberg & Stein P.C., our attorneys have helped countless clients get fair compensation for their or their loved one’s injuries. If your child has recently been involved in an accident that caused them a head injury and you believe it was caused by someone’s negligence, do not hesitate in contacting us. Call us at 212-681-2535 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys to review your case. 

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