General Health Information

Head Trauma

Head injuries are very common in children and most are not serious. It is common after head injuries to be sleepy or vomit in the first hours after the injury and to have a mild headache. Your child should be able to wake up and behave normally, recognize people and things, and speak clearly. Children need to be observed after head injuries for signs that indicate a more serious problem is developing. Awaken your child once during the first night after the trauma until he/she is talking normally. Loss of consciousness at the time of the injury may signify a more serious problem.

Call our office if:

• Your child lost consciousness.
• Your child vomits more than 2 times.
• Your child is less than 2 years old.
• Your child is difficult to arouse or is not acting normally when awakened.
• Your child's headache worsens.
• Your child has trouble seeing or walking, acts clumsy or uncoordinated.
• Your child has a seizure.
• Your child is unusually sleepy or confused.
• Your child has a bump or swelling on the side of his/her head, either firm or spongy.
• Your child has fallen from more than a 3-foot height.

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