A head injury can occur externally or an internally. An external injury occurs on the scalp, such as a scrape or open wound. An internal injury involves the blood vessels within the skull or the brain, explains the Kids Health website. Infant head injuries are usually accidental. One type of intentional infant head injury is called shaken baby syndrome, which results from purposeful shaking. Knowing the signs of infant head injury can prevent complications, including death.
External Injury Signs
External signs of a head injury can be worse than the actual damage to the head. The Kids Health website points out that the scalp is full of blood vessels which can bleed significantly from even a minor cut. The same applies to bumps and bruises; a "goose egg" that may appear after a head blow is the result of the veins in the scalp leaking fluid or blood into the scalp. These wounds can take days or weeks to disappear. In an infant, an injury like this should not be ignored, but it doesn't always require a trip to the emergency room.
A young babies soft spot, also called fontanel, can swell as a result of fluid build up surrounding the brain, according to American Family Physician. This is a serious sign of head injury that can go unnoticed. The injury does not have to occur at the site of the fontanel to cause swelling.
Loss of Consciousness
Any time an infant loses consciousness from a head injury, emergency treatment should be provided. Most likely the infant has suffered a concussion, which occurs when the brain becomes bruised from the force of the injury. This type of injury isn't always life-threatening, but it is best to have an infant evaluated to be sure.
The Baby Center website indicates that drowsiness, confusion and dizziness are all signs of a concussion in a baby and require medical attention. The concussion may not have caused the infant to lose consciousness, but she may struggle to stay awake, struggle to focus and her eyes may roll around in unusual directions.
Persistent Crying
The Kids Health website recommends contacting a doctor following a head injury if the infant won't stop crying. It is likely that the baby will cry for a longer period of time than normal with a moderate to severe head injury, but if she seems inconsolable, it is best to seek medical attention. The baby may be more irritable than usual following the injury. This can sometimes be due to the pain from the injury, but it should be closely monitored.
Abnormal Breathing
Kids Health recommends calling an ambulance if an infant's breathing becomes abnormal. Caregivers can monitor the infant's color and nostril flaring to see if the child is breathing normally. If the child appears to be bluish in color, gasping for air, or if the nostrils flare in and out when breathing, emergency treatment is necessary.
Lack of Movement
A severe blow to the head can result in an infant becoming partially or entirely paralyzed. The child may lie still and seem unresponsive, but awake. He may also be stiff or refuse to move. A more significant head injury may make the baby difficult to wake from sleeping. These signs indicate the child requires medical treatment. In shaken baby cases, an infant may have seizures or involuntary body movements.
Drainage
Any drainage from the nose, mouth or ears requires emergency treatment, according to the Baby Center websites. This includes blood or clear fluids.
Vomiting
It is not unusual for a baby to vomit once or twice following the force of a head injury. The Baby Center website suggests that it is more serious if the baby vomits persistently, including several hours after the injury.
Appetite Changes
The New York Times points out that an infant suffering from shaken baby syndrome may have a poor appetite or refuse to eat. The infant may have a weakened suck, or be unable to move her head towards the food source due to pain and possibly spine and neck injury.
