Head Injuries In Kids: When To Rush To The ER

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“My baby fell off the bed – onto the hardwood floor,” I still remember getting this call from a girlfriend and I could hear the fear in her voice. She took her daughter to the ER and thankfully, the baby was fine. A few years ago, my own son who is now 7, tripped and rammed his head into the wooden frame of our couch. We went to the ER and he was fine, too. Every parent has a my-kid-hit-their-head story and now a new study conducted by Wayne State University Division of Research has pinpointed several causes of major head injuries.

Children’s Hospital of Michigan Division Chief and Research Director of Emergency Medicine Prashant V. Mahajan, M.D., who is also one of the study authors, concluded that falls from bicycles are the major cause of brain trauma in children under age 12 (among adolescents, sports, car accidents, and assault commonly cause injury). “Knowing that, we’re now better able to help educate parents and policymakers alike about the great value of safety helmets for this population of kids,” Mahajan said in a press release.

The doctor has treated children that were both protected by safety equipment and those who were not. He noted in the study that the ones wearing helmets or seat belts sustained less severe injuries.

Of course, parents want to prevent head injuries – any injuries! But let’s face it, when my little speedster smacked his head in the living room, there was really nothing I could have done to prevent it – he was playing LEGOs one minute and the next – BOOM. The real question is, how do you know when an injury should be treated at the ER?

Yahoo Parenting reached out to Emil L. Matarese MD, a board certified neurologist and the director of the Aria Health concussion program (who is not associated with the study) for answers.

First thing to know: Falling forward or backward can be equally problematic. “When someone falls forward and hits their head, the front portion of the brain strikes the inner surface of the skull and then ricochets back, causing impact to the back of the skull. Direct trauma to the base of the brain can be very serious if injured,” Matarese tells Yahoo Parenting. He says any direct injuries to the back of the brain can be more serious if the brain stem is affected because this portion of the brain is our “computer center.”

Additionally, Matarese warns that children are at a higher risk of injury because their brains are still developing, so any injury can be serious and recovery can be prolonged. If your child is involved in an accident that has compromised his head, follow Matares’s advice to determine whether you need to head to the ER.

Always go with your gut

“Trust your instincts. If you feel as though the injury your child has experienced could result in a concussion or other serious injury, regardless of major signs (bleeding, egg on the head, disorientation) just go to the ER. You can also monitor your child and limit them from sports and other activities for up to 24 hours.”

Check to see if your child is sick

If your child is old enough to answer, ask him if they have a headache, feel dizzy or nauseous. “Vomiting, feeling in a fog or confused are signs something might be wrong,” says Matarese.

Note the way your child reacts to surroundings

“Sensitivity to light and noise are warning signs of a concussion,” he says. If your kid usually doesn’t mind hearing his little brother banging on the drum set and is now bothered by it, take note. Sunshine or lamps that seem to irritate your child’s eyes aren’t a reason to draw the blinds or shut off the light for some quiet time.

Your kid is out of it

“If your child appears confused, dazed, and is unable to recall things prior to being injured or after being injured, get him checked,” says Matarese. Playing question-and-answer is a good place to start: What did you have for lunch? What was the best part of your day? Remind me our phone number. Start a dialogue.

Your child seems clumsy

“Balance or coordination problems, loss of consciousness — no matter for how long (seconds or minutes) is not to be ignored,” says Matarese.

An egg swelled up on the head

“This indicates bruising and or bleeding under the scalp, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate a concussion. Ice it and monitor your child for additional symptoms that could indicate a concussion,” says Matarese. “If your child is experiencing pain, it is okay to give Tylenol after head trauma. However, Anti-inflammatory medication, like Motrin, Aleve, or Ibuprofen, is not recommended.” If additional symptoms arise that indicate a concussion, take your child to the emergency room.

There’s a manageable laceration or cut on the head

“Clean and bandage the wound,” says Dr. Matares. Then begin the monitoring process for additional symptoms.

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