It is common for children to have bumps on their heads every now and then. Most of these head injuries are minor and do not cause any serious problems. In rare cases, problems can occur after a minor bump.

This information below will help parents understand the difference between a head injury that is minor and one that is more serious.

Know that the information in this article is  meant for children who:

•  act normally after a head injury
•  were well before an injury
• have no cuts on the head or face
• have no other bodily injuries

The information in this article is not meant for children who :

• are younger than 2 years
• have bleedings or bruise easily
• have possible head injuries
• already have problems with the nervous system such as seizures or movement disorders
• have developmental delays
• are victims of child abuse

Children who fall into this category may have serious problems after a mild head injury.

What you need to do when your child has a head injury but does not lose consciousness

Call your child’s doctor if it is anything more than a light bump on the head. The doctor will ask you for information such as when the injury happens  and how your child is feeling.

If the child is alert and responds to you, the head injury is mild and no tests or injuries are usually needed. The child may cry because of the pain or fright however this shouldn’t last more than 10 minutes.

If need be, apply cold compressions for 20 minutes to help the swelling go down and then watch your child closely for a while.

What are the signs of a more serious injury ?

Call your doctor right away if there are any changes in the child’s condition. Some of the warning signs to look out for include the following :

• slurred speech or confusion
• a constant headache  especially one that  gets worse
• vomiting more than 2 or 3 times
• abnormal behavior or irritable behavior
• difficulty waking up or extreme dizziness
• double or blurry vision
• difficulty walking or stumbling
• convulsions
• weakness in the arm or legs
• blood or watery fluid oozing from the nose or ears
• unusual paleness that last for more than hour
• difficulty recognizing familiar faces
• unequal size of the pupil
• persistent ringing in the ears

What should i do if my child loses consciousness  ?

Call  911 if your child loses consciousness.  Special tests will be conducted to find out how serious the injury is. If the tests comes back normal, the child will need to be monitored closely for a while.  The doctor will determine if the test can be done at home or in the hospital.  If you happen to take the child home and his condition changes, call the doctor right away because she may need more care.

How to monitor your child at home

An adult should be with the child all the time within the first 24 hours and be ready to take  him back to the hospital if there is a problem. The child should also be monitored more carefully within the next few days because there could be a delay in signs of a more serious injury.

It’s okay to allow the child to sleep . However your child’s  doctor may recommend that you check your child every 2 to 3 hours. This is to make sure that she is moving normally , wakes up and respond to you or recognize you.

If the doctor  prescribes  a medication, make sure you follow instructions carefully. Do not give any other pain medication except acetaminophen unless the doctor says its okay. Your child’s doctor will let you know if the child can eat and drink  as usual.

If your child’s condition gets worse, call 911.  He may admit your child at the hospital or  transfer him to a specialist.
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