Head injuries are common in children and teens. They can hurt the scalp, skull, brain, or blood vessels. Show
Head injuries can be mild, like a bump on the head, or more serious, like a concussion. In kids, most are mild and don't injure the brain. What Causes Head Injuries?Most head injuries in childhood are due to falls. They also happen from: What Are the Types of Head Injuries?Head injuries can be:
An injury can cause a concussion, contusion, fracture, or bleeding:
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of a Head Injury?A child with a head injury might:
How Are Head Injuries Diagnosed?Doctors diagnose head injuries by asking questions about how the injury happened and doing a careful exam of the head. They'll also check to see how the nerves are working. Most children with a mild brain injury don't need medical tests. Doctors often do a CAT scan of the head if the injury is more serious. Signs that the injury could be serious include:
What Should I Do When a Child Has a Head Injury?Call your health care provider right away if your child had a head injury and:
If your child is not an infant, has not lost consciousness, and is alert and behaving normally after the fall or blow:
If your child's skin color and breathing are normal, and you don't sense a problem, let your child sleep unless the doctor tells you otherwise. There's no need to keep a child awake after a head injury. Trust your instincts. If you think your child doesn't look or seem right, partly awaken your child by sitting them up. They should fuss a bit and attempt to resettle. If your child still seems very drowsy, try to awaken them fully. If you can't wake your child, call your health care provider or 911 for an ambulance. What Should I Do if a Child Is Unconscious After a Head Injury?
Can Head Injuries Be Prevented?It's impossible to protect kids from every injury. But you can help prevent head blows. Most important, childproof your home to prevent household accidents. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects your brain function. Effects are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance and coordination. Concussions are usually caused by a blow to the head. Violently shaking of the head and upper body also can cause concussions. Some concussions cause you to lose consciousness, but most do not. Falls are the most common cause of concussion. Concussions are also common if you play a contact sport, such as football or soccer. Most people usually recover fully after a concussion. Products & Services
SymptomsThe signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle and may not show up immediately. Symptoms can last for days, weeks or even longer. Common symptoms after a concussive traumatic brain injury are headache, loss of memory (amnesia) and confusion. The amnesia usually involves forgetting the event that caused the concussion. Physical signs and symptoms of a concussion may include:
Other signs and symptoms of a concussion include:
A witness may observe these signs and symptoms in the concussed person:
You may have some symptoms of concussions immediately, and some can occur for days after the injury, such as:
Symptoms in childrenHead trauma is very common in young children. But concussions can be difficult to recognize in infants and toddlers because they can't describe how they feel. Concussion clues may include:
When to see a doctorSee a doctor within 1 to 2 days if:
If your child doesn't have signs of a serious head injury, remains alert, moves normally and responds to you, the injury is probably mild and usually doesn't need further testing. In this case, if your child wants to nap, it's OK to let him or her sleep. If worrisome signs develop later, seek emergency care. Seek emergency care for an adult or child who experiences a head injury and signs and symptoms such as:
AthletesNever return to play or vigorous activity while signs or symptoms of a concussion are present. Experts recommend that an athlete with a suspected concussion not return to activities that are associated with a higher risk of another concussion while still showing concussion symptoms. Children and adolescents should be evaluated by a health care professional trained in evaluating and managing pediatric concussions. Experts also recommend that adult, child and adolescent athletes with concussions not return to play on the same day as the injury. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. |
What to watch for with a head injury
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