Signs and Symptoms
Head trauma can present in many different ways depending on the severity and the type of injury. Many symptoms of head trauma are as follows:
- Bleeding, denting, and other obvious signs of trauma, including bleeding from ears, nose, or mouth. (Note: the amount of blood from the injury is not necessarily indicative of the severity of the injury.)
- Severe headache
- Persistent vomiting
- Decreased alertness of the individual, including lapses in consciousness, drowsiness, or slurred speech
- Stiff neck
- Convulsions
- Unequal pupil size
- Unusual eye movements
- Weakness or inability to use an arm or leg
- Slow breathing
In infants, look for swelling of the head, particularly in the soft spot in the skull (the fontanel) at the top of the head. Children are prone to head injuries but are particularly resilient against them. If a child gets a bump on the head and then shows any of the above symptoms or is acting less energetic in the next 24 hours, it may be a sign of a more serious injury.
Who's At Risk
