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Children
and head injuries
The skull provides a lot of
protection against the many bumps and falls of childhood. So, the
majority of head injuries are minor and do not require hospitalization.
Minor head injuries typically require rest for a few days and
acetaminophen for pain relief.
It is important to observe your child closely in the hours and days
following a head injury. This may mean waking the child periodically
during the first night following injury to be sure he or she can be
awakened easily. If there is any change in the level of consciousness
(from slight confusion to loss of consciousness), your child's pulse
becomes slow (below 70 beats per minute) or irregular, his or her pupils
are of unequal size, or if any other troublesome symptoms arise, consult
your child's doctor immediately.
In the case of major head trauma, as may occur following a traffic
accident or fall from a bike, seek emergency treatment. Keep your child
lying down with the shoulders and head slightly elevated until help
arrives. Do not move his or her neck.
Seek Emergency Care If Your
Child:
- Is unconscious
- Is not breathing.
- Has severe head or
facial bleeding.
- Has a deformed skull,
bruising behind an ear or around eyes, pupils of unequal size, or
bloody or clear discharge from ears or nose.
- Is confused, lethargic,
or vomits more than once or has a headache, speech difficulty, partial
paralysis, partial memory loss, or convulsion either immediately
following injury or in the hours or days following the trauma.
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