Head injuries are common for infants, who are unsteady in their movements and need constant supervision. Injuries occur anytime there is damage to the brain, skull or scalp, and can vary in severity from a minor bump on the skull to something more serious. Luckily, the skull is tough enough to serve as a sort of protective head gear, designed to withstand most of the wear and tear of childhood.
Open v. Closed
A closed head injury is one that does not break the skull, according to The New York Times Health Guide, while an open head injury breaks through the skull and enters the brain. Most infant injuries only involve the scalp, the Ask Dr. Sears website reports, and while there is likely to be a lot of blood and a large goose egg, the brain rarely gets injured.
Types
A blow to the head can cause a concussion, the most common type of traumatic brain injury. Ask Dr. Sears describes a concussion as the shaking up of the brain.
When a subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs, there is bleeding between the brain and the tissues that cover it. The New York Times writes that car crashes are most likely to cause a subarachnoid hemorrhage in an infant.
A subdural hematoma is a collection of blood on the brain's surface. An acute subdural hematoma is one of the deadliest head injuries because it leads to bleeding that puts pressure on brain tissues, according to The New York Times, which also states that the very young are at an increased risk for this type of head injury.
At-Home Treatment
When your child bumps his head, it is important to remain calm and apply pressure with a towel or washcloth to stem any bleeding. Follow this up with pressure via an ice pack, which will help reduce the size of any goose egg. A dose of acetaminophen will help manage any headache that might start shortly thereafter, says Ask Dr. Sears.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Immediately after any sort of head injury, it is important to observe your child to note any changes in behavior. Signs of brain injury can appear immediately, or take their time and show up during a 24-hour period. There are several warning signs or red flags that warrant immediate medical attention, including loss of consciousness, however brief; vomiting; and an altered mental status. In an infant altered mental status means difficulty making eye contact, crossed or rolling eyes, or a change in pupils. Check to make sure your baby is moving his arms and legs normally, or sitting and crawling as usual. Prolonged crying for more than an hour after an acetaminophen dose, according to Ask Dr. Sears, also warrants a call to the pediatrician.
If a head injury occurs near night or nap time in an already tired infant, it is OK to let her sleep, but be sure to awaken her every two hours to look for a change in color, breathing and possible muscle twitches. The deep sleep from a head injury is nearly always associated with shallow, irregular breathing patterns that you are unlikely to have seen before.
Abusive Head Trauma
Abusive head trauma, also known as Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), is a head injury caused by someone roughly shaking a child. Male parents or caregivers usually are responsible for SBS, and most victims are infants younger than 1 year old, according to Kids Health. Children of families who live near or below poverty level are at greater risk for SBS, and the damage is often irreversible or fatal.
While it is never a good idea to shake a baby, most normal interaction with a child, such as bouncing a baby on your knee, will not cause SBS.
If you suspect child abuse, it is imperative to get help for that child as quickly as possible. To get help or report abuse, call the authorities at 911 or contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD.
