All children are very fond of outdoor games. One thing is bad: laughter and contented screams often turn into tears, because jumping and running often lead to injuries. But bruises, bruises, and scratches rarely cause anxiety in parents. Everyone knows how to provide first aid if the child is seriously injured: it is enough to treat the problem area with an antiseptic or ointment from bruises and monitor the condition of the injured area of ​​the skin until it heals.
But when a child hits his head during a fall, many parents start to panic. This is due to the fact that children's bones are not as strong as in adults, and the baby can easily get a concussion or damage the skull.
What to do if a child hits his head? What to look for first? How to help? Which doctor to visit? Parents start frantically seeking answers to these questions, especially if the baby lands completely unsuccessfully.
Are headaches dangerous for a child?
Young children constantly fall when they learn to walk, play or indulge. The consequences may be different. For some, everything ends successfully, for others - serious bruises and abrasions.
The child’s body is not like an adult. Nature must have taken care of the safety of the child. Between the brain and the cranial bones of the baby is a large amount of fluid. In the event of a fall, it protects the main organ of the central nervous system from damage. To alleviate the consequences of an unsuccessful landing, the presence of an un-ossified area of ​​the skull helps. The fontanel is able to cushion the force of impact.
The risk of serious head injury during a fall depends on age. The younger the child, the more fragile his bones of the skull. So, the chance of getting a dangerous brain injury is growing.
If the baby fell and hit his head, you should immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will conduct an examination and, if necessary, select the treatment that will help to avoid the serious consequences of the injury.
Is a nape punch dangerous for a child?
If during the fall the child hit the back of the head, it is worth starting to worry. Such a landing is fraught with grave consequences:
- open or closed head injury;
- concussion;
- contusion of brain tissue;
- deformation of the cranium and subsequent compression of the main organ of the central nervous system.
In rare cases, children have visual impairment, impaired coordination.
However, it is worth noting the following: if the child hit the back of the head, the consequences will not always be disastrous. The result of a fall can be a normal bump or bruise. Nevertheless, you need to know when any alarming signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. As they say, it is better to overdo it than to overdo it.
Symptoms of brain injury include:
- the appearance of nausea and vomiting;
- loss of consciousness;
- acute headache;
- increased sweating;
- trembling hands and feet;
- darkening in the eyes;
- pallor.
If you find one of these symptoms, do not postpone the visit to a specialist, so as not to aggravate the condition of the child.
What else could be the symptoms of a head injury?
If a child hits his head, what should I look for? Observe the behavior and appearance of the victim. Try not to let him fall asleep within 2-3 hours after the fall, in order to be able to notice the onset of alarming symptoms in time, including:
- increased drowsiness;
- sluggish state of health;
- irritability or tearfulness uncharacteristic for the child;
- different reaction of the pupils to the light;
- dizziness;
- problems with maintaining balance;
- the appearance of tinnitus;
- decreased appetite;
- bleeding from the nose or ears;
- sleep disturbance;
- impaired vision, hearing;
- bruises under the eyes;
- dilated pupils for no apparent reason;
- an admixture of blood in urine and feces.
The child hit his head: what to do?
The ability to provide the right first aid is a guarantee that the baby will not have serious complications. If the child fell headfirst, it is necessary to examine the place of the injury, determine the severity of the injury and treat the wound, if any.
First aid will depend on the type of damage the baby received. If he has a lump on his head, you need to apply a compress. Take ice, fruits, vegetables or meat frozen in a bag from the refrigerator. Wrap in cotton or gauze and attach to a damaged area. Keep the compress 3-5 minutes. It will help calm the pain and relieve swelling.
Instead of ice, you can use magnesia. The powder must be dissolved in water, moisten a piece of sterile gauze in it and attach to the bump. Repeat the procedure three times a day. Magnesium sulfate will relieve swelling and reduce pain.
The hematoma can be treated with ointment from bruises and bruises. Drugs “Rescuer”, “Troxevasin”, “Bruise-OFF” will help to cope with an injury in a short time.
Help with abrasions and bleeding
An open wound formed when the child hit his head? What to look for when assisting?
See if bleeding has opened. If the damage is serious, cut off the hair near it so that it does not interfere with the treatment and does not provoke the onset of the inflammatory process.
Clean the wound with a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. If blood comes from the damaged area, apply a compress with an antiseptic for 10 minutes.
After this time, lubricate the skin around the wound with iodine or brilliant green. Make sure that the product does not get into an injured place. A tissue burn will only slow the healing process.
If the bleeding has not stopped in 10 minutes, call an ambulance.
First aid in the absence of visible damage
If the child hit his head, but during the examination you did not find external damage, do not rush to rejoice. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can occur after a few hours.
Limit the physical and mental activity of the child. On the day of the fall, do not allow him to sit at the computer, read too much or watch TV. Let the baby lie and rest as much as possible.
How to help if a child hits his head? What to look for if there is no external damage? Observe the behavior and condition of the baby. Keep track of his sleep quality and appetite. Find out how he feels.
If you suspect a head injury, consult a doctor immediately.
The child hit his head. The consequences of the blow: what can they be?
Even a slight header can have very unpleasant consequences:
- violation of the main organ of the central nervous system due to trauma;
- increased blood pressure due to improper regulation of vascular tone;
- circulatory disturbance;
- cystic formations;
- increased intracranial pressure;
- cerebral compression followed by atrophy.
The severity of the consequences depends on how serious the injury was. An important role is played by timely treatment. If the therapeutic course was started when the traumatic brain injury was neglected, the recovery period will be long and the consequences will be severe.
Visit to the doctor
A head trauma surgeon or surgeon deals with head injuries after a fall. The specialist will begin the examination with general questions about the well-being of the child. Finds out what symptoms of a head injury appeared. If your suspicions are confirmed, the child will be hospitalized.
The hospital will conduct a comprehensive examination, which will accurately determine whether the baby has internal injuries, and find out how serious the child is.
Depending on the recommendations of the attending physician, the following methods are used to examine children:
- Neurosonography. Used for children 1-1.5 years old. Allows using the ultrasound through the fontanel to explore the structure of the brain. Examination with this device does not have negative consequences.
- Lumbar puncture. For analysis, cerebrospinal fluid is taken if intracranial hemorrhage is suspected.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the head (MRI). The most informative and safest way to examine. Shows whether there has been a change in brain tissue.
- Computed tomography. X-ray examination. This procedure can be done no more than twice a year. Creates an x-ray of a section of the brain, allowing you to accurately assess the state of the organ.
In early childhood, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head (MRI) is done under general anesthesia. This is due to the fact that during the examination it is necessary to be in a stationary position for a long time. For a child, not moving for a long period is very difficult.
If a child hits his head, do not immediately panic. Try to provide first aid. Observe the condition of the baby. If you notice disturbing symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. Timely treatment will help bring the child’s health in order in a short time and will eliminate the negative consequences of injury.