A child of 6 months hit his head what to do. The child fell off the couch, hit the back of the head, the consequences. What to do if a child hits his head? anxiety symptoms

Pediatricians state that they are most common in childhood. These statistics have their explanations. In children under 5 years of age, the head is relatively heavy and large in comparison with other parts of the body. This physiological feature of babies affects the coordination of their movements. Just a slight push is enough for the baby to lose balance and fall headfirst.

Fortunately, most falls pass without consequences for the health of the baby and injure only the nervous system of relatives.

In stock, nature has a number of protective devices that protect the brain from the consequences of falls: fontanelles of the skull, an excess amount of shock-absorbing cerebrospinal fluid, etc.

The task of parents is to know the symptoms that indicate that a head injury is potentially dangerous and requires mandatory medical attention.

Physiological features of the child's brain

The head of a child has a slightly different structure than that of an adult. The bones of the baby's skull are soft and flexible, which avoids serious damage when colliding with a hard surface. During the impact, the elastic bones shift and return to their original position.

Another important feature of the child's brain is its immaturity and high content of cerebrospinal fluid. A child's head is much easier to withstand blows.

Baby fall off couch

Many children under 1 year of age often fall out of bed. At 4 months, the baby is already actively moving lying down, can roll over, tries to crawl. Doctors advise at such a time to constantly monitor the little researcher.

Children at this age cannot yet assess the danger of their actions and roll to the floor in a split second. Even a very attentive mother may not see the baby, turning away for a bottle. And, of course, when falling, the head suffers first.

Toddlers are just learning to use their hands and do not yet have the reflex to put them in front of their heads for protection. According to pediatricians, in most cases there is no cause for concern: the height of the sofas is about 50 cm or even less.

A fall from such a height, as a rule, cannot significantly damage the brain. Worse, falling to the floor, touching the wooden sides of the sofa or other sharp or hard objects.

Rare, but the most unfortunate consequences of a fall of a baby can be a concussion and an open craniocerebral injury.

Observation after the fall

If the child fell and hit his head, it is necessary to observe him within the next 24 hours.

The task of parents is to provide the child with peace and not allow too active games on this day.

If in the first hours after the fall the child does not complain about anything and feels good, then damage to the internal organs is unlikely, which means there are no reasons for panic and indications for ultrasound.

anxiety symptoms

Doctors identify a number of serious signs, regardless of the age of the child, to which parents should pay attention:

• disturbance of consciousness of any intensity and duration;
• inappropriate behavior;
• speech disorder;
• unusual sleepiness;
• intense headache that persists for more than one hour after the injury;
• convulsions;
• repeated bouts of vomiting;
• dizziness and/or imbalance that persists for more than one hour after the injury;
• pupils of different sizes;
• inability to move an arm or leg, weakness in an arm or leg;
• the appearance of dark (dark blue) spots under the eyes or behind the ears;
• bleeding from the nose or ears;
• discharge of a colorless or bloody fluid from the nose or ears;
• any violations of the senses (even minor ones).

The presence of at least one of these signs indicates the need for immediate medical attention!

1. Reassure the child.

2. Put the child on the bed in such a position that the spine and head are at the same level.

3. Examine the child for abrasions, bumps and wounds on the head. Observe his reactions and behavior, check for warning signs, as well as signs of external trauma. A limb bruise or dislocation is usually noticeable, if something hurts more, the baby will definitely let you know.

4. Noticing a swelling bump in the affected area, it is recommended to immediately apply a cold compress for three minutes to prevent further formation of severe swelling.

Pay attention to the quality of the bud: a tall and firm bud is a good sign.

But if the bump does not appear immediately, but a little later, if it is low, large in area and soft (like jelly), you need to seek urgent medical help.

5. If there is an abrasion, gently wipe it with hydrogen peroxide. In case of bleeding, monitor its duration - if it continues for 10 minutes, call your doctor immediately.

6. If there is vomiting, the baby should be laid on its side so that the discharge easily leaves and does not prevent the victim from breathing normally.

7. Provide peace to the child.

8. If the injury is severe, it is important to keep the child awake until the ambulance arrives. Following this recommendation will also prevent you from missing other symptoms.

10. If you have at least one alarming symptom, you should immediately seek medical help. During the examination, the doctor will be able to determine the severity of the blow and draw a conclusion about the need for hospitalization.

All babies are very mobile, so various bumps and abrasions are normal for them. In most cases, they fall headfirst. Nature has taken care of protecting the children's brain, so basically such blows are not capable of causing significant harm to the crumbs. Although there are injuries that pose a danger to the baby. If a child hits his head, what should adults do in this case?

As soon as the baby has learned to move independently, he often falls, and bumps appear on his head. Parents, as a rule, do not pay attention to this, considering this condition to be normal. How do you know if it's worth worrying about?

Forehead strike

The consequence of the fact that the child fell upside down, hitting his forehead, is the appearance of a bump. This is due to injury to small vessels and filling the surrounding tissues with blood. The result is swelling and hematoma. Due to the fact that the bones of the forehead are quite strong, these injuries are not dangerous. But, if a bump appeared in a baby after a fall, then it must be shown to a doctor who can determine the degree of damage and eliminate serious consequences.

Back of the head

Sometimes, the child may fall on his back and hit the back of his head. In this case, parents should hurry to the doctor. This is due to the fact that such injuries cause serious problems in the future. Due to the fact that in the back of the head there are nerve endings that affect the functioning of the organs of vision, it can be disturbed. The child is able to lose consciousness, he has tremors in his legs and general weakness of the body. And all this can be even with a small cone.

Seeing that the child hit the back of the head, hurry with him to the doctor, even if he does not make any complaints. There are times when signs of such injuries may appear after a long period of time.

First aid

Falls and bumps for children, especially one-year-olds, are common, so you should always know what to do if a child hits his head hard. Correct and timely actions will help prevent the development of serious consequences of the injury. First, the damaged area must be carefully examined. Adults should try to determine the severity of the blow, regardless of where it fell (forehead, back of the head or temple):

1. The appearance of a hematoma in the place where the blow occurred. Cold (ice) should be applied to the site of edema as soon as possible. A bottle filled with cold water or a handkerchief soaked in water will also work. It is necessary to hold such a compress for about 5 minutes to alleviate the condition and reduce swelling of the affected tissues.
2. After the fall, there was an abrasion and blood appeared. The wound must be treated with hydrogen peroxide. This will prevent various pathogens from entering through the wound. If you cannot immediately stop the bleeding, call an ambulance.
3. The kid could hit, but there is no damage in this place. Parents should carefully observe him for several more days, noting any deviations from the norm in his behavior or condition. or dizziness, become cranky and irritable, sleep long or tire easily. All this may indicate a concussion or some other serious injury. Noticing a sharp deterioration in his condition, loss of consciousness, the occurrence of nausea and vomiting, it is urgent to call a doctor.

Adults should reassure the child and provide him with complete peace. To do this, it is better to put the baby to bed, read a fairy tale, explain that nothing dangerous has happened and after rest he will be able to play again.

At the same time, the main thing is to do everything so that he stays awake for several hours, because many of them immediately begin to fall asleep. This is done in order not to miss serious symptoms and to identify the severity of the injury.

Doctors recommend waking your baby up at night to test coordination. After a few days, if he continues to feel well and nothing bothers him, then the parents can calm down. In the first time after the injury, he should spend more time walking on the street, but avoid active pastime.

anxiety symptoms

Each baby can fall down to the floor or hit his head on furniture or any other objects. If this happens, parents should follow him. In this case, any physical activity should be kept to a minimum. Older children need to limit brain activity - to prohibit reading, playing on a computer or watching TV. A child who complains of weakness or dizziness should be seen by a doctor.

After a forehead blow

Children often hit their foreheads. A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if the parents notice:

• In the place where there was a bump, a depression formed.
• The kid complains of nausea, vomiting appeared.
• Unable to calm down for a long time.
• The lips turned blue and the skin turned pale.

Tatyana Gurevich, head of the movement disorders clinic at the Tel Aviv Medical Center, talks in detail about head injuries:

• Pupils greatly increased in size or strabismus appeared.
• Too big bump appeared at the place of impact.
• He cannot turn his head to the side, it is difficult for him to move.
• There is bleeding from the nose or ears.

If at least one of the above signs is noticed, you should immediately show the child to the doctor. Even in the case when it seems to adults that the injury is insignificant, consultation with a pediatrician is required!

Before the arrival of the doctor, the victim should not be given medications so that the doctor can assess the real picture of the damage. The baby should lie on its side while waiting for the examination.

After being hit with the back of the head

If the blow falls on the back of the head, the symptoms that should alert you will be almost identical. Additionally, numbness of the limbs, loss of consciousness (may be prolonged), visual impairment (blurring, complete absence, etc.), tinnitus, severe dizziness, impaired coordination of movements and memory loss may appear.

Such shocks are often the cause. And even if the baby just plopped down on the floor, hitting the back of the head, this condition cannot be ignored. In order to avoid negative consequences, it is better to immediately show the child to the doctor.

Older children and teenagers can be injured by falling backwards while rollerblading, cycling, or during a fight. To avoid trouble, it is important to teach the baby how to fall correctly as early as possible, and when riding a bicycle, it is necessary to use a protective helmet.

Possible consequences

Children can fall in any direction. The type of injury, signs and consequences will depend on where the blow fell. Even if the child seems healthy, adults still need to observe his condition and behavior for several days.

It is possible that the state of health will begin to deteriorate after a while. Children may complain of headaches, memory problems. They become capricious, sleep and appetite are disturbed.

On forehead strike

Falling forward and hitting the forehead, children can most often. In such situations, the simplest manifestation of injury will be a bump. There are 2 types of traumatic brain injury:

1. Closed - without violating the integrity of the bones of the skull and skin. Separate light (not threatening the baby) and complex injuries (when treatment is necessary).

1. Open - damage to the skin and bones occurs. As a result of the fall, the baby's consciousness is disturbed and bleeding appears.

Neurologist M. M. Shperling talks about traumatic brain injuries. We listen to the doctor:

Closed injuries include:

• Brain concussion. The victim may lose consciousness (as a rule, this lasts for several minutes). After that, dizziness, nausea and vomiting will appear. There is pallor of the skin and blue lips. Although, it is possible that the child will not have any manifestations of concussion. But it's too early to rejoice. Parents in such situations should analyze the behavior of the baby during sleep. With a concussion, sleep is disturbed, he often wakes up. If this is the case with your child, then you need to show it to the doctor. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the child needs bed rest.

• . In this case, after the impact, the children lose consciousness. The skin around the eyes darkens, and the ears and nose may bleed. In this case, you need to call an ambulance. Other signs of a brain injury include: impaired speech and facial expressions, damage to the facial nerve.
• Soft tissue injury. This injury is the easiest and most harmless. In this case, a bump or hematoma appears at the site of impact. The child quickly calms down and his condition returns to normal.

Consequences of hitting the head

When hit in the back of the head

Falling on the back of the head is very dangerous. Therefore, after such an injury, the baby should be immediately shown to the doctor in order to avoid serious consequences:

1. Perceptual disturbance. When the blow came from the left side, the baby may not perceive the space that is on the left and vice versa. This condition is considered very serious and dangerous, but it is extremely rarely diagnosed.
2. Children may become inattentive. Sleep is disturbed, memory deteriorates. The baby is being tortured.

Dr. Komarovsky talks about childhood head injuries and in which cases it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor:

Such consequences can be avoided if the child is shown to the doctor as soon as possible after the injury.

Injury Prevention

Any fall can result in a headbutt. To avoid this, young children should not be left unattended by adults, wherever they are (on a sofa, changing table, in a crib or stroller). They may roll over or try to crawl, and as a result, they may fall and hit. If you need to leave the room where the baby is, place him in the playpen or lay him on the floor where he will be safe.

While dressing the crumbs, hold it with your free hand. When the child is sitting on the bed, even if you are nearby at this time, put a few pillows on the floor. Children are incredibly mobile and it is not always possible to keep track of them.

Safety precautions should not be neglected while walking in a stroller. When choosing a stroller, pay attention to models with high sides. And seating a child there, be sure to fasten it with seat belts.

Children who are learning to walk fall especially often. At this time, their legs are not yet strong enough and it is easy for him to stumble or slip. To make the baby comfortable, put on socks with special rubber inserts on the feet that will not allow him to slide on the floor. It is equally important to protect the surrounding objects and furniture. Specially for sharp corners, silicone pads are sold. Parents can also cover such areas with a soft cloth.

While descending the stairs, you need to firmly hold the child's handle, as the baby can easily slip and fall down. And this is extremely dangerous. One of the most traumatic places for children is the playground. To prevent injury to babies, parents should always be near them. This is especially true for swinging or playing on high structures.

For older toddlers who are starting rollerblading or cycling, always wear a safety helmet, which can always protect the baby's head from injury in a fall. It is important for children who play sports to learn how to fall correctly and group themselves at the same time.

The head is not only the most important, but also the most vulnerable part of the human body. Therefore, she needs to be treated with respect. The main task of adults is to control the baby and in a conversation with an older child, during which he needs to explain the importance of safety in everyday life. If, nevertheless, it happened that the child fell and hit his head, he must be shown to the doctor in order to exclude the occurrence of serious injuries.

"The child falls, and God puts a pillow"
folk wisdom

Often in a situation where a child falls out of bed or a changing table, the mother does not know what to do. Do I need to run to the doctor, call an ambulance or help the child on my own? The question is how he fell: from what height, what he hit and in what place.

The child fell out of bed and hit his head: possible injuries

The fall of a child has its own peculiarity: at an early age, the greatest risk of injury falls on the head. In small children, it is the most difficult. And the most common affected area is the parietal part.

When a child is injured when he falls, the following facts must be taken into account:

• Fontanelles and a large amount of fluid around the brain absorb shock, reduce the risk of concussion and skull fracture, thus protecting the baby from serious injury. Therefore, for the health of the child, falls from a small height (30-40 cm) in most cases pass without consequences.
• The child's brain is in the stage of active formation. Hitting the head when a child falls can negatively affect his development and health. The consequences can be mental illness, a low level of intelligence, headaches, loss of vision or hearing, etc.

All traumatic brain injuries are divided into:

• open (damaged bones and soft tissues)
• closed (when the integrity of the bones of the skull and soft tissues is not broken)

Closed brain injuries are divided into:

• brain concussion
• brain contusion
• brain compression

With a concussion, there are no changes in the structure of the substance of the brain, with a bruise, foci of destruction of the brain substance occur, and compression appears against the background of a bruise due to rupture of blood vessels or fragments of the skull.

If the child fell and hit his head (back of the head or forehead), there may be a soft tissue injury - the easiest injury when the brain does not suffer in any way. Then there is a bump or abrasion at the site of impact.

What is important is not exactly which place he hit when he fell (on the forehead or the back of the head), but the severity of the brain damage.

Symptoms of a brain injury

How to assess the severity of the injury if the child fell and hit his head?

A concussion of the brain is manifested by a short-term loss of consciousness. In children younger than a year, it can be difficult to notice. It is possible to assume such a state if some time (1-3 minutes) has passed from the moment of falling to the appearance of crying. The child may vomit. Up to 3 months, vomiting can be repeated. There is blanching of the skin, sweating, as well as drowsiness and refusal to eat. Children under one year old do not sleep well the first night after an injury.

With a brain contusion, loss of consciousness may be longer (more than an hour), signs of respiratory and cardiac activity may appear.

If a child falls out of bed and falls in such a way that the bones of the skull are fractured, their condition may be severe. Perhaps the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid (clear liquid) or blood from the nose, ear. There are bruises around the eyes (a symptom of glasses). However, symptoms may appear several hours after the injury.

If the child has fallen from the bed (sofa, changing table or other surfaces), it is necessary to closely monitor his condition. In the case when everything ended with 10-15 minutes of crying, and the child's condition has not changed, you can not go to the doctor.

If the mother has at least some doubt that the injury is not dangerous, it is better to call a doctor, because it is more reliable to make sure that the child is healthy than to treat serious consequences later.

Children under 1.5 years old can do neurosonography. This procedure is painless, inexpensive and performed using an ultrasound machine. With its help, an increase in intracranial pressure and the presence of life-threatening hemorrhages are determined. At a later age, such a study will not work if a large fontanel is overgrown.

The child fell and hit his head: options and first aid

Often in a situation where a child falls out of bed or a changing table, the mother does not know what to do.

If, having cried after the blow, the child calmed down and behaves as usual, then the experience gained will only benefit him. In this case, after comforting the baby, it is enough to apply a cold compress to the injury site for 10-15 minutes. For him, a cloth moistened with cold water, ice wrapped in a towel, or any other cold object is suitable.

Treat the wound or abrasion with hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection. With further bleeding (if it is not stopped), call an ambulance.

The main signs in which you need to see a doctor if the child hit his head:

• deterioration of health, the baby "falls asleep on the go"
• muscle twitching, leg cramps
• pupils that do not constrict in bright light or pupils that are unequal in size
• severe blanching of the skin
• muscle paresis or paralysis
• in older children - dizziness
• blood in urine, stool, or even vomit
• nosebleed

What needs to be done first of all with the above signs of a concussion is to get to the doctor in any way or call an ambulance.

If a child falls asleep soon after a fall, do not rely on the restorative properties of sleep. It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out cerebral edema. The intracranial pressure will be reduced for the child, the metabolism in the brain will be corrected with the help of drug treatment.

In difficult cases (with cracks in the bones of the brain, indentation of fragments, ruptures of the hard membranes of the brain, fractures), an operation may be necessary in the Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery.

Prevention of head injuries in children due to falls

The situation when a child falls out of bed or a changing table happens most often with children under one year old. Therefore, you should not leave the baby alone, especially if he has already learned to roll over. It is better to leave the child on the floor (not naked, of course).

A changing table is a very dangerous thing, as it has a small area. Therefore, the mere presence of adults is not enough, you need to hold the child with your hand. It is better to swaddle the baby on the bed or sofa.

You can lay something soft or put pillows on the floor, in case the child does fall out of bed.

Children also "love" to fall out of strollers. Therefore, it is better to purchase lower models and strollers with high sides, do not neglect fastening the child.

When a child begins to walk, falls are common. The reason for this may be slippery floors (parquet). The child can wear socks with rubberized inserts (they will not let slip). Rugs and rugs should not “ride” on the floor, they can also provoke a fall.

I would like to note the psychological side of the issue. You don’t need to constantly experience the fear that the child will fall and hit his head - after all, exactly what a person is very afraid of happens. In addition, you can transfer this fear to the child himself.

So that the child no longer falls and hits his head when going to the kitchen or somewhere else, spread a blanket on the floor, put the child on it, the baby will get a lot of pleasure from a new angle, and you can temporarily go about your business without consequences for the child's health.

Video: about falling and hitting the head of young children

All children love outdoor games. One thing is bad: laughter and contented cries often turn into tears, because jumping and running often lead to injuries. But scratches rarely cause concern for parents. Everyone knows how to provide first aid if a child is not seriously injured: it is enough to treat the problem area with an antiseptic or ointment for bruises and monitor the condition of the injured skin area until it heals.

But when a child hits his head during a fall, many parents begin to panic. This is due to the fact that children's bones are not as strong as those of adults, and the baby can easily get a concussion or damage the skull.

What to do if a child hits his head? What to pay attention to first of all? How to help? Which doctor to visit? Parents begin to search frantically for answers to these questions, especially if the baby lands quite unsuccessfully.

Are headbutts dangerous for a child?

Young children constantly fall when they are learning to walk, playing or playing around. The consequences may be different. For some, everything ends well, for others - with serious bruises and abrasions.

Children's bodies are not built like adults. It must be that nature itself took care of the safety of the child. Between the brain and the cranial bones of the baby is a large amount of fluid. In the event of a fall, it protects the main organ of the central nervous system from damage. The presence of a non-ossified part of the skull also helps to mitigate the consequences of an unsuccessful landing. The fontanel is able to absorb the impact force.

The risk of serious head injury during a fall is directly related to age. The younger the child, the more fragile his skull bones. This means that the chance of getting a dangerous brain injury increases.

If the baby falls and hits his head, you should immediately consult a doctor. The specialist will conduct an examination and, if necessary, select a treatment that will help avoid serious consequences of the injury.

Is a blow to the back of the head dangerous for a child?

If during the fall the child hit the back of the head, you should start to worry. Such a landing is fraught with dire consequences:

• open or closed craniocerebral injury;
• concussion;
• bruising of brain tissue;
• deformation of the cranium and subsequent compression of the main organ of the central nervous system.

In rare cases, children experience visual impairment, impaired coordination.

However, it is worth noting the following: if a child hits the back of the head, the consequences will not always be dire. The result of a fall can be an ordinary bump or bruise. However, you need to know if any warning signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. As the saying goes,

Symptoms of brain injury include:

• the appearance of nausea and vomiting;
• loss of consciousness;
• acute headache;
• increased sweating;
• trembling in hands and feet;
• darkening in the eyes;
• pallor.

If you find one of these symptoms, do not postpone a visit to a specialist so as not to aggravate the child's condition.

What other symptoms could be

If a child hits his head, what to look for? Observe the behavior and appearance of the victim. Try to keep him awake for 2-3 hours after the fall in order to be able to notice the appearance of alarming symptoms in time, including:

• increased drowsiness;
• sluggish state of health;
• uncharacteristic for the child irritability or tearfulness;
• different reaction of pupils to light;
• dizziness;
• problems with maintaining balance;
• the appearance of noise in the ears;
• loss of appetite;
• bleeding from the nose or ears;
• sleep disturbance;
• deterioration of vision, hearing;
• bruises under the eyes;
• dilated pupils for no apparent reason;
• admixture of blood in urine and feces.

The child hit his head: what to do?

The ability to provide proper first aid is a guarantee that the baby will not have serious complications. If the child has fallen head down, examine the site of the bruise, determine the severity of the injury and treat the wound, if any.

First aid will depend on the type of injury the baby has received. If he needs to apply a compress. Take ice, frozen fruits, vegetables or meat from the refrigerator. Wrap in cotton cloth or gauze and apply to the damaged area. The compress should be kept for 3-5 minutes. It will help soothe the pain and relieve swelling.

Magnesium can be used instead of ice. The powder must be dissolved in water, soak a piece of sterile gauze in it and attach to the bump. The procedure should be repeated three times a day. Magnesium sulfate will relieve swelling and reduce pain.

Hematoma can be treated with ointment from bruises and bruises. The preparations "Rescuer", "Troxevasin", "Bruise-OFF" will help to cope with the injury in a short time.

Help with abrasions and bleeding

Was there an open wound when the child hit his head? What to look for when providing assistance?

See if there is any bleeding. If the damage is serious, cut off the hair around it so that it does not interfere with the treatment and does not provoke the onset of the inflammatory process.

Clean the wound with a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine. If blood is coming from the damaged area, apply a compress with an antiseptic for 10 minutes.

After this time, lubricate the skin around the wound with iodine or brilliant green. Make sure that the product does not get on the injured area. Burning tissue will only slow down the healing process.

If the bleeding does not stop within 10 minutes, call an ambulance.

First aid in the absence of visible damage

If the child hit his head, but during the examination you did not find external injuries, do not rush to rejoice. Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may take several hours to appear.

Limit your child's physical and mental activity. On the day of the fall, do not allow him to sit at the computer, read too much or watch TV. Let the baby lie and rest as much as possible.

How to help if a child hits his head? What to look for if there is no external damage? Observe the behavior and condition of the baby. Monitor the quality of his sleep and appetite. Find out how he feels.

If you suspect a traumatic brain injury, contact your doctor immediately.

The child hit his head. The consequences of a blow: what can they be?

Even a slight blow to the head can have very unpleasant consequences:

• disruption of the main organ of the central nervous system due to injury;
• increased blood pressure due to improper regulation of vascular tone;
• circulatory disorders;
• cystic formations;
• increased intracranial pressure;
• followed by atrophy.

The severity of the consequences depends on how serious the injury was. Timely treatment plays a big role. If the therapeutic course was started when the traumatic brain injury was in a neglected state, the recovery period will be long and the consequences severe.

Visit to the doctor

Head injuries after a fall are dealt with by a pediatric traumatologist or surgeon. The specialist will begin the examination with general questions about the child's well-being. Find out what symptoms of a traumatic brain injury have appeared. If your suspicions are confirmed, the child will be hospitalized.

The hospital will conduct a comprehensive examination, which will accurately determine whether the baby has internal injuries and find out how serious the child's condition is.

• Neurosonography. Used for children 1-1.5 years old. Allows using ultrasound through the fontanel to explore the structure of the brain. Examination by this device has no negative consequences.
• Lumbar puncture. For analysis, cerebrospinal fluid is taken if there is a suspicion of intracranial hemorrhage.
• Magnetic resonance imaging of the head (MRI). The most informative and safe way to survey. Indicates whether there have been changes in the brain tissue.
• Computed tomography. X-ray examination. You can go through this procedure no more than twice a year. Creates an X-ray image of a section of the brain, allowing you to accurately assess the condition of the organ.

In early childhood, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the head (MRI) are done under general anesthesia. This is due to the fact that during the examination it is necessary to be in a stationary position for a long time. It is very difficult for a child not to move for a long period.

If a child hits his head, do not immediately panic. Try to provide first aid. Monitor the condition of the baby. If you notice any worrying symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. Timely treatment will help bring the child's health in order in a short time and relieve the negative consequences of the injury.

Little fidgets get out of strollers, fall out of high chairs, knock when they reach their favorite toy on a high shelf. Bruises, crying, bruises and bumps accompany the childhood of any active toddler. What to do if the child fell and hit his head, when you urgently need to see a doctor, we will tell in our article.

From this article you will learn

Are headbutts dangerous?

Bumps, abrasions, scratches and bruises on the head after a blow or fall seem harmless only at first glance. Among the serious consequences are the following:

• visual impairment;
• skull trauma;
• loss of consciousness;
• hematomas;
• epilepsy;
• traumatic meningitis;
• encephalitis;
• increased intracranial pressure.

Whether they appear or not depends on the physical condition of the child, the strength of the blow. In any case, parents need to carefully monitor the behavior and well-being of the baby for a few more days after receiving even a slight injury. Visit a doctor to be safe, to exclude bruises of the brain or spinal cord.

Important! How much to observe a child without serious external manifestations of a blow to the head, the therapist or traumatologist will tell.

Types and symptoms of head injuries

Head injuries due to falls, collisions with a hard surface can be divided into several groups:

• Light damage. They are not particularly dangerous, they pass in a couple of days. These are bruises, bumps or small hematomas. In this case, only the tissue of the epidermis is damaged, small vessels burst. The child usually quickly forgets about the bruise, does not experience severe pain.
• Moderate injuries. Open wounds, deep scratches, abrasions, bleeding. The brain, the bones of the skull with such bruises are not damaged. The kid cries for a long time, complains of a headache, short-term clouding of consciousness, dizziness. After 1-2 hours, alarming symptoms disappear, skin wounds heal after 1-2 weeks.
• Severe injuries. These are concussions, open and closed craniocerebral injuries. The child loses consciousness after a fall, blood flows from the wound, the bones of the skull are crushed in serious cases. Such injuries heal hard and for a long time, accompanied by unpleasant consequences for children's health. A concussion does not fully manifest itself immediately, after 1-4 hours or 1-2 days. The baby's coordination of movements is disturbed, the skin of the eyelids darkens, vomiting is observed.

Important! If the baby flew down the stairs or tubing, does not get up, does not cry, urgently call a doctor. It is not necessary to lift him unconscious. Wait for an ambulance. Possibly damaged cervical spine.

What to do if a child hits his head

With strong blows, visible damage to the bones of the skull, heavy bleeding, no action can be taken by parents. Call for help, urgently take the child by car to the emergency room.

If the blow is light, the baby himself gets up, complains, cries, if there was a fall from a height of his height, first aid is as follows:

1. Pick up a crying baby.
2. Lay on a hard surface such as a bed or changing table.
3. Examine the forehead, the back of the head, the top of the head. Gently touch the bump, head, nape, check the child's reaction. You will have to determine the degree of danger of the wound in the first minutes on your own.
4. Ask how he feels. Pay attention to the expression of the eyes. If the look is distracted, the child really wants to sleep, he has a faint, do not delay calling an ambulance.
5. Examine the limbs for dislocations and fractures. When a baby falls, the collarbone is more often broken, and the joints are dislocated. In this case, you need to help get up carefully, but it is better to wait for the ambulance to arrive.
6. Take care of the hematoma. If the bump is poured high, hard, then the damage is external, there is no need to panic. Apply a cold spoon, ice, compress to the swelling. A huge bruise on the forehead, cool the back of the head too.
7. Shallow scratches and abrasions should be anointed with hydrogen peroxide. If the baby fell on the pavement while walking, wash the wounds. Iodine, green wounds can be smeared a little later or the next day.
8. If there are deep wounds, stop the bleeding and call for medical help.
9. When vomiting starts, lay the baby on its side. Nausea will not go away soon if the baby has received a concussion.
10. Keep your child calm. But do not let him fall asleep for several hours if he is sick, his head hurts a lot. Let it just lie down.
11. Give an antipyretic if there are no serious injuries. "Nurofen", "Ibuprofen" will relieve pain.
12. Watch him closely for a few days. If the baby complains of a headache, vertigo (dizziness), nausea, faints, go to the doctor for an additional examination.

How to check if you have a concussion

First day after injury

On the day of the fall and a day after, observe the behavior and well-being of the victim. Pay attention to:

• Clarity of consciousness. The baby should respond to voice, touch, cry if wet, etc. For older children, ask simple questions, ask them to bring an object, talk about the day they spent.
• Movement coordination. Traumatologists advise waking up the baby in the middle of the night, putting him on his feet. If the baby is standing well, he can stretch his arms straight, you don’t have to worry about his health.
• Appetite. Refusal to eat, nausea - negative symptoms. The child vomited several times, he complains of a severe headache, he cannot walk on his own - call a doctor.
• Speech. Talk to the child, listen to the babble. Slowness of the pace of speaking, stuttering is a reason to seek medical help.
• Behavior. Decreased activity, apathy, constant crying should alert parents.
• Injuries. Watch for bruises, bumps. If they do not heal, become redder, more extensive, make an appointment with the doctor.
• Appearance of the child. Pallor, blue lips, the difference in the size of the pupils are signs of serious consequences of a bruise.

anxiety symptoms

It’s great if the baby, after falling off the couch, feels good and quickly forgets about what happened. Parents can relax.

The following signs become the reason for panic, calling a doctor (Important! The table can be scrolled to the right and left):

Important! The cause of falls for newborns is often the inexperience and negligence of young parents. For a baby, ordinary household items are dangerous: a changing table, a sofa, a wooden cabinet, a cast-iron battery, a tiled floor, even a low step. You need to monitor a child starting independent steps and a helpless baby 24 hours a day.

Here is what Dr. Komarovsky thinks about head injuries. Watch the video:

Negative consequences

Hitting any part of the head is dangerous. The consequences of falling and bruising depend on the place of injury, the force of impact, and the age of the baby.

Consequences of a forehead blow

Children fall forward when they run and stumble over a pipe, a step, fall out of a walker, crash a bicycle or a scooter into obstacles. First of all, the frontal part of the head suffers. This area is hard, the bones are strong, but serious injuries are life-threatening, the unborn child.

Injuries are divided into two types:

Closed injuries

The bones of the skull remain intact, the skin, internal parts of the head, and brain structures are damaged. The consequences of closed injuries appear after a few hours or days. Recognizing them at home is quite difficult. There are several types of such invisible and visible damage:

concussion

It is characterized by a short-term loss of consciousness. After a couple of hours, the child will become ill, vomiting, nausea, dizziness will appear. The face may turn pale, the lips turn blue. Concussion treatment is carried out in a hospital, at home later you will need bed rest, restriction of activity.

If symptoms are not observed during the day, pay attention to the child's sleep. If he does not sleep well, insomnia, anxiety appear, consult a doctor.

brain contusion

Severe complication for young children. A fallen child does not regain consciousness for 5–10 minutes. Dark circles form around the eyelids, blood leaks from the nose and ears. A brain contusion is received from strong blows on a hard surface: concrete, furniture, tile on the floor, wall. The height of the fall must be more than a meter.

Soft tissue injuries

The most unpleasant, but less dangerous head injury. In children, large bruises appear on the forehead, large bumps the size of a pea, bruises, and shallow cuts. The child cries after being hit, but quickly calms down.

It is almost impossible to identify internal damage to brain structures without x-rays, ultrasound, MRI and laboratory tests. If you notice symptoms of serious complications of a fall, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.

open injury

There are bleeding, deep wounds, bones are crushed. The skin and face should turn white. Requires medical attention, in severe cases, surgery. The consequences of complex open head injuries are difficult to predict.

Consequences of a blow to the back of the head

Falls back, on the back of the head, are painful and dangerous even from a small height. The consequences of a blow can be the following:

• Visual impairment. Behind are the nerve endings that are responsible for vision. Their damage leads to a decrease in this function or complete blindness.
• Decreased concentration level.
• Disorientation in space. If one of the sides of the occipital lobe is damaged.
• Speech disorders. Delayed articulation, ONR, ZRR, stuttering.
• Migraine. The head will hurt for several days or weeks after the injury. Chronic migraines are observed in school, adolescence due to overwork.
• Insomnia. It is difficult for the baby to fall asleep due to dysfunction of the central nervous system.

Important! Newborn babies are more likely to get bumps due to the fault of adults. From the serious consequences of hitting the floor, their hard surface is saved by the fontanel. It plays the role of a shock absorber. A five-month-old baby and older children do not have such protection. Normally, the fontanel overgrows at 6 months.

How to avoid injury in the future

Fall prevention is essential for children of all ages, especially those who have had serious head injuries. First, let's figure out what places and actions are dangerous for babies up to a year old and older. It is forbidden:

1. Ride a wheelchair without seat belts.
2. To remain alone in infancy on high sofas, beds, tables.
3. Running on the wet bathroom floor after bathing.
4. Close doors in front of other children during active play.
5. Swing strongly on the swing.
6. Run around the apartment, not looking around.
7. Pick up long sticks and play catch-up at the same time.
8. Ride a bike or scooter without a helmet.
9. Climb on high horizontal bars, Swedish walls, slides in wet shoes, in the rain.
10. Lean out of the windows of the house, cars, to look down, ahead.
11. Get up on chairs, tables.
12. Jump into deep holes, into the river with a running start.

Knowing the most common dangers, parents are required to tell their children about them, control walks and secure the kids when making active maneuvers. And also follow a few more tips for arranging a safe area at home:

• Buy a crib, playpens with high sides. Even with this type of furniture, it is impossible to leave young children alone at a height. A six-month-old baby, a newborn can easily fall out through the side.
• Paste the door jamb, sharp corners of wooden furniture with soft pads. A small child can hit the corner with the crown or temple.
• Cover radiators with blankets.
• Put on walking crumbs special socks for the house, with a pimply surface, they will not slide on linoleum. Or lay down a carpet.
• Remove glass furniture, floor vases from the house until the baby grows up. Breaking your head on the corners of fragile tables and chairs is even more dangerous.
• Take care of the safety of the child on the street. Hold the baby firmly by the hand for up to a year, insure on the stairs during the first steps.
• Fasten seat belts in strollers, cars.
• Put the children's transport on the brakes, if you stop to drink, chat with a friend.
• Do not allow older children to carry a stroller with babies. A car may suddenly jump out onto the road or a hole may meet. The stroller will turn over, the baby will fall.

Not every person manages to fall without consequences at least once in a lifetime. Bumps, bruises, scratches, head injuries justifiably scare parents. In order to reduce troubles and health problems, it is worth telling children from infancy how to behave at home, on the street, and be attentive yourself.

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