By Dr. Ravindra Patil
Head injuries are dangerous, whether in adults or in children. Sometimes they are life threatening. It is better to consider each and every injury to the head seriously and watch out for dangerous signs. Seek medical help if in doubt.
This article focusses on head injuries in children. Right from the time a baby begins to crawl, walk and run, he or she is likely to injure itself. As children grow, they are more prone to head injuries as they are very active. Sports sometimes cause head injuries. So if your child sufferes any injury on his or head, do seek medical help. These are some of the common questions that parents ask when their child has suffered an injury on the head.
A head injury can lead to cognitive impairment. Signs and symptoms may appear at once, within 24 hours, or they may emerge days or weeks after the injury. Sometimes the symptoms are subtle.
With more severe injuries, you might notice:
Little children are not able to express their pain, so they will cry incessantly.
There are three grades:
Grade 1: Mild, with symptoms that last less than 15 minutes and involve no loss of consciousness.
Grade 2: Moderate, with symptoms that last longer than 15 minutes and involve no loss of consciousness.
Grade 3: Severe, in which the child loses consciousness, sometimes for just a few seconds.
A concussion does not necessarily affect intelligence. Intelligence is a stable trait which includes many aspects of cognitive functioning. Following a concussion, the brain is unable to function as well as it did prior to injury
A new study reveals that approximately 1 in 5 individuals may experience mental health symptoms up to six months after mild traumatic brain injury. This means that it is necessary to take follow-up care for children with a head injury.
Repetitive head injuries can be the result of physical abuse, car accidents and multiple falls. The child may be at risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy [CTE] later in life. CTE and related head injuries can lead to short-term memory problems and difficulty in making reasoned judgments and decisions.
As more blood fills the brain or the narrow space between the brain and skull, other signs and symptoms may appear, such as: Lethargy and Seizures. Seek immediate medical attention after a blow to the head if…
Health care providers follow guidelines that recommend performing CT scans only for patients who are at higher risk for skull fractures or bleeding in the brain. Most people with head injuries do not have either of these problems, and simple concussions do not show up on a CT scan.
A CT scan is usually the best first test to use if the doctor thinks you have a skull fracture or bleeding in the brain. Your doctor should look for symptoms and ask about the accident.
Vomiting can occur several days or weeks after a head injury, depending on how severe the concussion was. However, it should decrease in frequency as time passes. If it does not decrease, you must seek medical help immediately.
If a child is less than two years of age and sustains a fall more than three feet, or if a child is over two years of age and has sustained a fall more than five feet, a trip to a brain hospital is recommended. Remember, children cannot tell exactly how they feel and what is happening to them.
A head injury can be as mild as a bump, bruise (contusion), or cut on the head. Or it can be a concussion, a deep cut or open wound, broken skull bones, internal bleeding, or damage to the brain. Head injuries are one of the most common causes of disability and death in children. So toddler should be given the benefit of expert care if they sustain a head injury.
Traumatic Brain Injuries [TBI] Can Cause Behavioural Problems and Personality Disorders [PD]. The most common post-TBI PDs were: borderline, avoidant, paranoid, obsessive-compulsive and narcissistic. Men were more likely to be diagnosed with antisocial PD and narcissistic PD.
ADHD means Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. If the child’s symptoms exist from childhood, and there is a history of concussion from childhood, then ADHD and post-concussion syndrome are both possible. If the child’s symptoms existed in childhood but worsened after a head injury in adulthood, then ADHD and post-concussion syndrome are both possible.
Brain injuries can have significant effects on behaviour, impacting impulse control and self-awareness. These effects stem from damage to areas of the brain that regulate emotions and impulses and include anger, impulsive behaviour, self-centeredness, impaired awareness and even violence.
The most common short-term complications associated with TBIs include cognitive impairment, difficulties with sensory processing and communication, immediate seizures, hydrocephalus, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, vascular or cranial nerve injuries, tinnitus, organ failure, and polytrauma.
Thinking and Remembering, Dizziness or balance problems, Feeling slowed down, Sleeping more than usual, Feeling tired, Trouble falling asleep, Headaches, Problems with short- or long-term memory, Nausea or vomiting (early on), Trouble thinking clearly.
Types of traumatic brain injuries include:
The parts of the brain that are most commonly affected in traumatic brain injury are the frontal and temporal lobes. And part of the reason for that is that they’re up against bone, and it’s fairly rigid and rough bone.
A CT scan uses a series of X-rays to create a detailed view of the brain. A CT scan can quickly visualize fractures and uncover evidence of bleeding in the brain (haemorrhage), blood clots (hematomas), bruised brain tissue (contusions), and brain tissue swelling. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
New research led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows that a single head injury could lead to dementia later in life. This risk further increases as the number of head injuries sustained by an individual increases.
The following are signs of a more serious injury: A constant headache, particularly one that gets worse. Slurred speech or confusion. Dizziness that does not go away or happens repeatedly. Extreme irritability or other abnormal behaviour.
Sharp and painful headaches, along with confusion, are often the first signs of brain bleeding. However, https://buketio.com.ua/ the symptoms often depend on the bleed’s location. If you recently suffered from brain trauma and begin experiencing different or worsening symptoms, seek emergency medical help immediately.
One simple concussion assessment test is to shine a low-beam flashlight from the outer edge of each eye inward. Pupils should quickly get smaller (constrict) in response to the light. A slow pupil response to light may be a sign of brain injury (increased intracranial pressure or ICP).
Samarth Neuro and Superspeciality Hospital has 100+ beds & specializes in emergency surgery for neurological issues/disorders & diagnostics.
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