Child head injury - advice and information for follow up

A head injury is caused by a bang or blow to the head. Most head injuries are mild and have no complications.

If your child does have any problems this leaflet will give you information on what to do and who to contact.

The doctor who has been looking after your child feels it is safe to allow him or her to go home.

As long as your child can be woken easily, it is okay to let him or her sleep. Unlike in films, children should not be kept awake after an injury!

However, when your child is asleep, you should check that:

• he or she is breathing normally, and
• makes the expected response when you gently rouse him or her

Ideally your child should get a lot of rest over the days following the injury. Try not to let him or her get too excited, allow them to play quietly or read a book.

If your child has a mild headache give him or her a simple painkiller such as paracetemol ('Calpol').

It is important that you make sure your child is watched very carefully over the next 24 hours. This is so that if he or she has any symptoms you will be aware of them early on.

1. Your child's behaviour is different to what you would normally expect.
2. Your child appears confused or disorientated (not knowing where he or she is, getting things muddled up).
3. Your child becomes unconscious and cannot be woken up.
4. There is bleeding or fluid coming out of the ears or nose.
5. Your child vomits (is sick) more than twice.
6. Your child has a seizure (fit).
7. Your child has a severe headache, which is not helped by painkillers such as paracetemol.
8. Your child is unable to walk or use his or her limbs properly.

If your child develops any of these symptoms you should return straight away to the Emergency Department.

If you are not sure whether to return or not, then please call us. The direct line for the Department nurses and doctors is tel: 01896 826981.

After a head injury some children have symptoms that can cause you to worry. They have these symptoms if the head injury caused them to lose consciousness at the time or if they were very sick.

The kinds of things they might get are:

1. difficulty when sleeping
2. irritability or being easily annoyed
3. poor concentration
4. mild headaches that are relieved by painkillers
5. loss of interest in going to school or playing with friends

Usually these problems get better by themselves and the child will be back to normal in a matter of days.
The symptoms can last for up to two weeks. If your child does not improve within this time, please contact us ( tel:01896 826981). Or, take your child to your GP for further follow up.

To help your child recover more quickly he or she should:

• avoid contact sports (for example rugby, football). His or her concentration may have been affected by the injury so these sports can be dangerous
• rest or sleep when he or she needs to
• eat normally. If your child is a baby or toddler then they should continue to take feeds. If he or she is refusing, you should return to the Emergency Department

If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the Emergency Department on tel:01896 826981. You can speak directly to a nurse or doctor.