Children are at risk for head injury from playing sports, bicycle and recreational accidents and vehicular accidents. These injuries can be serious, resulting in permanent brain damage and death if severe enough. A child with a head injury may not develop symptoms that indicate a serious head injury until hours later. Seeking medical attention for a head injury to rule out a serious problem is a wise course of action. Emergency medical care should be sought if there is loss of consciousness, bleeding or breathing difficulties.
External Injury Symptoms
An external head injury does not affect the internal skull or brain. Rather, the scalp is involved and damaged. External symptoms of a head injury are usually obvious. A child who has struck her head may have bruising at the area of impact, or bleeding if the skin has been broken. Bleeding may be copious as the scalp contains multiple blood vessels and can bleed profusely. A contusion may form, or swelling under the skin, also known as a "goose-egg."
A child who has suffered only a mild external head injury may not experience symptoms beyond pain, swelling or bruising. KidsHealth.org advises that any child with a head injury be watched closely for 24 hours for additional symptoms. A progression of symptoms can indicate a more severe head injury has occurred, such as internal head injury or concussion.
Internal Injury Symptoms
The brain is cushioned by fluid inside the skull; however, a hard enough blow to the skull can damage brain tissue and blood vessels. A variety of symptoms can occur if a child suffers an internal head injury. Bleeding inside the brain is serious and occurs when blood vessels inside the head become broken during injury. A child may have bleeding or clear fluid drain from his ears, nose or mouth immediately after injury. He may have trouble with speech and balance; falling easily and not being able to bear weight can indicate brain injury. Pupils may be different sizes and a child may have trouble focusing visually or have blurred vision.
A child with an internal head injury may become unconscious, even if he had been awake and alert immediately after injury. The National Institutes of Health warns that symptoms of a head injury can develop slowly, sometimes days after injury. Close observation of the injured child is necessary, while medical attention should be sought if any symptoms develop.
Concussion
Concussion is a type of closed head injury, or internal injury, that often presents classic symptoms. A concussion is bruising on the brain, which occurs when the brain is bounced inside the skull during injury. A child with a concussion may have immediate symptoms, as well as those that develop slowly. Symptoms include dizziness, visual disturbances, nausea and vomiting, headache and fatigue. Concussion can also cause memory problems, anxiety and trouble with concentration and thinking, which can develop days after a head injury. Symptoms of concussion in any age child warrants medical attention.
