Is this your symptom?
- Injuries to the head (scalp, skull and brain)
Types of Head Injuries
- Scalp Injury. Most head injuries only damage the scalp. Examples are a cut, scrape, bruise or swelling. Big lumps and bruises can occur with minor injuries. This is because there is a large blood supply to the scalp. For the same reason, small cuts on the head may bleed a lot. Bruises on the forehead sometimes cause black eyes 1 to 3 days later. This is from blood spreading downward by gravity.
- Skull Fracture (serious). Not all people with head injuries will have a skull fracture. Often, the only symptom is a headache. The headache occurs at the site where the head was hit. Most skull fractures occur without any injury to the brain. They heal easily. Other fractures are more severe and involve injury to the brain or the blood vessels on the surface of the brain. Blood clots that form due to brain injury may need surgery to release the pressure they cause. Fractures in the base of the skull can be difficult to spot. Signs include a watery or bloody discharge from the nose or ears, bruising around both eyes and/or bruising behind the ears. If this type of fracture is not found and treated, it can lead to later problems, such as infection, epilepsy and/or brain damage. If a head injury has resulted in a possible fracture, a CT scan is often needed.
- Concussion is a type of brain injury. It causes a change in how the brain works for a short time. It is often caused by a sudden blow to the head. The most common signs are a brief period of confusion or memory loss after the injury. Other signs can include a headache, vomiting, dizziness or acting dazed. A person does not need to be knocked out to have had a concussion. Following a concussion, some people have ongoing symptoms. These can include headaches, dizziness, thinking problems or emotional changes. These symptoms can last for several weeks.
- Brain Injuries (serious)
are uncommon. This includes bleeding, bruises or swelling within the brain. They are a concern if you have the symptoms listed below:
- Hard to wake up or keep awake or
- Acts or talks confused or
- Slurred speech or
- Weakness of arms or legs or
- Walking is not steady
- Increasing headache
- Persistent vomiting
- These symptoms are an emergency. If they happen, call 911.
- Neck Injury (serious). Any head injury also has the risk of a neck injury. These can range from a mild sprain to a fracture or dislocation of the neck vertebrae. After a head injury, it is very important that the neck is also checked for injury. The risk is higher if the person was knocked out or if there is neck pain. Do not attempt to move the head or neck and tell the injured person not to move it. If there is any doubt, keep them still until help arrives.
Concussion Treatment
- Treating a concussion needs both Physical Rest and Brain Rest.
- Brain Rest means a stepwise return to full work and mental activity.
- Physical Rest means a stepwise return to normal activity, work and exercise or sports.
- If symptoms occur (like a headache), the person needs to return to the previous level of physical and mental activity. In 24 hours, they can try again to take it to the next level.
- Athletes involved in sports need to have a stepwise plan for "return to play." Progressing through steps should be supervised by a doctor or athletic trainer.
Pain Scale
- Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from your normal activities. Work, activities and sleep are not changed.
- Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
- Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.
When to Call for Head Injury
Call 911 Now
Go to ER Now
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
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Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
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Self Care at Home
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Call 911 Now
- Seizure
- Knocked out (unconscious) for more than 1 minute
- Neck pain after the head injury and not moving the neck normally. Caution: protect the neck from any movement.
- Large dent in skull
- You (or patient) have any of these symptoms NOW:
- Hard to wake up
- Acts or talks confused
- Slurred speech
- Walking not steady
- Weakness in arms or legs
- Major bleeding that can't be stopped
- You think you have a life-threatening emergency
Go to ER Now
- Awake but not alert, not focused, slow to respond (maybe a concussion)
- Neck pain after head injury
- You (or patient) had any of these symptoms BUT feel fine now:
- Confused talking
- Slurred speech
- Walking not steady
- Weakness in arms or legs
- Blood or watery fluid draining from the nose or ears
- New deafness in one or both ears
- Knocked out (unconscious) for less than 1 minute
- Bleeding that won't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
- Large swelling is present
- Previous brain surgery
- Feeling light-headed, dizzy or faint
- Blurred or double vision lasted more than 5 minutes
- Dangerous injury (such as from a car crash, high fall, diving, or severe blow to head)
- Vomited 2 or more times
- Severe or increasing headache
- Can't remember what happened or store new memories
- A large or deep cut that may need stitches
Call Doctor or Seek Care Now
- Bruising around both eyes or behind the ear(s)
- Age older than 65 years
- You take a blood thinner or have a blood clotting disorder
- Have been drinking alcohol or using drugs
- You have wound and No past tetanus shots
- You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent
Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours
- Headache lasts more than 24 hours
- Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years
- Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years
- You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent
Contact Doctor During Office Hours
- You have other questions or concerns
Self Care at Home
- Minor head injury
Care Advice for Stomach Pain
What You Should Know About Stomach Pain:
- Mild stomach pain can be caused by something simple. It could be from gas pains or eating too much.
- Sometimes, stomach pain signals the start of a viral infection. This will lead to vomiting or loose stools.
- Watching your child for 2 hours will help tell you the cause.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lie Down:
- Have your child lie down and rest until feeling better.
Clear Fluids:
- Offer clear fluids only (such as water, flat soft drinks or half-strength Gatorade).
- For mild pain, offer a regular diet.
Prepare for Vomiting:
- Keep a vomiting pan handy.
- Younger children often talk about stomach pain when they have nausea. Nausea is the sick stomach feeling that comes before they throw up.
Pass a Stool:
- Have your child sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool.
- This may help if the pain is from constipation or diarrhea.
- Note: for constipation, moving a warm wet cotton ball on the anus may help.
Do Not Give Medicines:
- Any drug (like ibuprofen) could upset the stomach and make the pain worse.
- Do not give any pain medicines or laxatives for stomach cramps.
- For fever higher than 102° F (39° C), acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can be given.
What to Expect:
- With harmless causes, the pain is most often better or gone in 2 hours.
- With stomach flu, belly cramps may happen before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. These cramps may come and go for a few days.
- With serious causes (such as appendicitis), the pain worsens and becomes constant.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Constant pain lasts more than 2 hours
- Mild pain that comes and goes lasts more than 24 hours
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Extra Help - Worried Stomach:
- Help your child talk about events that trigger the stomach pain. Talk to your child about how to cope with these the next time around.
- Help your child worry less about things she can't control.
- To treat the pain, help your child get very relaxed. Lying down in a quiet place and taking slow deep breaths may help. Make the belly go up and down with each breath. Then try to relax all the muscles in the body. Think about something pleasant. Listening to audios that teach how to relax might also help.
- Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
- Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomach pains. Stressed children tend to want to stay home when the going gets rough.
- Caution: your child should see her doctor for an exam. Do this before concluding frequent stomach pains are from worrying too much.
