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):

Physical condition, appearance of the bruised area	External warning signs	From the CNS	From the gastrointestinal tract	Behavior
There is a dent in the skull that was not noticed immediately after the impact. The bruised place hurts, bleeds.	The skin became pale, cyanosis appeared around the eyes, lips, and nose.	The baby cries for a long time, is naughty.	During feeding, the baby often burps, the one-year-old baby vomits repeatedly.	Maladaptation.
The bump on the forehead has increased to a huge size, there is swelling.	Eyes squint.	Speech is stunted, babble is absent.	Food and drink are disgusting.	Psychoses. Wants to cry for any reason, even a minor one.
The baby does not turn his head, moves his neck with difficulty.	Pupils enlarged.	The baby can not fall asleep, he began to sleep badly.	Increased nervousness.
Spinning and headache.	There is bleeding from the nose, ears, there is a discharge of a different kind.	A child after a year complains of double vision.		Inadequacy.
Back hurts. Possibly damaged spinal cord.	The temperature has risen.	Numb limbs.
After hitting the temple with the corner on the side, a bruise formed.		Short-term loss of consciousness, disadaptation in space.
It hurts to move my arms and legs. Check the bones for fractures, take x-rays.		There is drowsiness.
Limping.		Lethargy.
When walking, a one-year-old toddler constantly falls.

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 obliged to tell their children about them, control walks and insure 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.

IMPORTANT! *when copying article materials, be sure to indicate an active link to the first

As soon as a child begins to walk, falls and injuries become common for his parents. Often the baby hits his head during the game - it can be a collision with an obstacle while running, hitting the corner of the table, falling to the floor or asphalt. Babies also often get bumps and abrasions as soon as mom turns away for a second. As a rule, such situations frighten parents, and they call a doctor in a panic. How to determine how badly a child is injured, what to do in the first place and when to sound the alarm - we will consider below.

Inspection of the injured area and first aid to the child after the impact

If a child falls and hits his head, an initial examination should be carried out immediately. A hard landing on the asphalt may be accompanied by the presence of external damage - scratches, abrasions on the forehead. In this case, they should be treated with hydrogen peroxide. If the skin is not broken, the injury is assessed in stages:

• The bump speaks of a bruise of the soft tissues of the head (we recommend reading:). As a rule, in children it disappears within 1-2 hours.
• A hematoma may form at the site of injury - its appearance indicates damage to the vessels. However, a bruise can also occur due to a crack in the skull, which is much more dangerous.
• Severe bleeding and a deep wound are a reason to call an ambulance.

After examining the site of injury, ice should be applied to the forehead of the child. Its pieces must be wrapped in a clean cloth (handkerchief) and pressed against the affected area for 10-15 seconds. Then take a short break (5-10 seconds) and press again. Instead of ice, you can use a chilled spoon, frozen meat, or another cold object. The procedure should be carried out within a quarter of an hour. Usually these actions are enough for the lump to disappear, and the hematoma to become smaller and resolve faster.

After hitting your head, you should briefly apply a cold compress to your forehead.

Associated symptoms after hitting the head

If the blow to the head was not too strong, there may not be any accompanying symptoms at all. In case of an unsuccessful fall, the following manifestations are possible:

• Redness of the skin.
• Abrasion or wound.
• A lump is a swelling at the site of impact, 3-5 cm in size. A larger size requires the intervention of a specialist.
• Hematoma - blue skin due to damage to blood vessels. A bruise, unlike a bump, does not appear immediately, but within 1-2 hours after the incident.
• Pain at the site of injury, aggravated by pressure.
• Sometimes, on the 2-3rd day after a forehead blow, a child develops a bluish color under the eye over which he stuffed the bump.

What signs should be alarmed?

In addition to examining the site of injury, the general condition of the child should be assessed. If the baby knocked on the open door and cries, this does not mean that the injury is severe. Children are often frightened by an unexpected blow, so you need to try to calm and distract the baby. However, the consequences of a blow can also be a concussion, a crack in the skull.

If the blow was strong, the child should be shown to the doctor, so that he, in turn, assesses the severity of the blow and prescribes the necessary treatment.

It is important not to panic, but pay attention to the following signs:

• Pupils. Their size should be the same, if one is smaller than the other - there is a concussion.
• Unusual child behavior. If the baby is too lethargic after the fall, he began to yawn, he was sleepy, there were short-term loss of consciousness - he should certainly be shown to the doctor.
• Another sign of a concussion is nausea and vomiting (more in the article:). In a small child, this symptom may be manifested by regurgitation, he will begin to turn out from food.
• It is necessary to measure the pulse of the baby - it should be within 100 beats per minute, for the baby - 120. A slowdown in heart beats is an alarm signal.
• After the baby hit his forehead, he may have a fever. This situation also requires a referral to a specialist. To rule out a crack in the skull, the doctor may advise you to take an x-ray of the head. The pediatrician will also refer you for a consultation with a neurosurgeon and an ophthalmologist.
• Some doctors do not advise putting the baby to bed right away, even if it is time for sleep. This recommendation is due to the fact that during wakefulness it is easier to observe the child in order to see deviations in his behavior in time. It is worth trying to distract him from what happened and take a closer look at how the baby behaves.

forehead bump treatment

Sometimes a bump on a child's forehead becomes rampant and does not disappear immediately. It is believed that the frontal bones are one of the strongest, but it is still better to show the child to a specialist in order to avoid consequences.

If the doctor has not found serious abnormalities in the baby (cracks in the skull or concussions), the big bump can be treated at home. However, it is important to ensure that secondary infection does not occur - suppuration does not form. Consider what parents should do and how to deal with the problem on their own.

Ointments and other preparations

In order to speed up the processes of tissue regeneration, lesions on the forehead can be lubricated with ointments and gels that have absorbable and anti-inflammatory properties. Well, if the remedy gives an anesthetic effect, then the pain from a bruise will pass faster. Our table contains the most popular and effective means for external use.

Name of the drug	Composition	Indications	Recommendations for use
Traumeel (gel or ointment)	Homeopathic remedy, contains extracts of yarrow, aconite, mountain arnica, belladonna, etc.	Injuries of various origins (sprains, dislocations, hematomas), inflammatory processes in the joints.	Apply to the affected area in a thin layer 1-2 times a day. Use no more than 10 days.
Balm Rescuer	Milk lipids, bee wax, tea tree oils, sea buckthorn, lavender, echinacea extract, tocopherol, turpentine.	Abrasions, wounds, diaper rash, hematomas, bruises, sprains, skin infections, inflammation of the mucous membranes.	Make balm applications, applying to cleansed skin. It is advisable to use a bandage with an insulating layer (for example, stick with a plaster).
Gel Troxevasin	The active substance is troxerutin.	Edema and trauma, muscle cramps, venous insufficiency.	Not recommended for use on mucous membranes.
Bruise GelOFF	Leech extract, pentoxifylline, ethoxydiglycol, etc.	Bruising and bruising on the face or body.	Apply to affected areas up to 5 times a day. Cannot be used on mucous membranes.

Folk remedies

Boiled bay leaves are a good aid

There are also folk remedies to eliminate cones and hematomas. We have selected several recipes that can be used to treat a child:

• Bay leaf. You need to take 2-3 bay leaves and boil them for 5 minutes. Then apply the cooled leaves to the bruise for a few minutes. If the leaves are warm, the effect may come faster.
• Potato starch will help get rid of a huge cone. To prepare the product, you need to take 2 tbsp. l. starch and dilute it with water to the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply the resulting ointment to the bump, wash it off after a while. Use until completely absorbed.
• Grate ordinary laundry soap on a fine grater, mix 1 tbsp. l. shavings with egg yolk. Apply the resulting mixture to the site of injury every 2-3 hours. Wash off at the end of the day.
• Apply the inner side of the banana peel to the injured area for 5-15 minutes.
• Brush the formation with melted butter. Repeat the procedure every half hour.
• You can apply not ordinary ice to the injury site, but frozen water with the addition of chamomile, string, sage.

How long does it take for a hematoma to disappear after a stroke?

If the child hit his forehead, a bump may appear at the site of the bruise, which will resolve within 1-2 hours. However, there are times when the seal does not last a long time - up to several days and even weeks. Very rarely, after an injury, complications arise, and the bump does not go away without the intervention of a surgeon. The doctor may recommend a puncture - using a syringe to remove the contents of the neoplasm. However, for starters, you should try to get rid of the hematoma on your own.

The child hit his head - when should you see a doctor, and in what cases can you get by with applying a towel with ice? We will talk about this and the alarming symptoms in babies after falls below.

Why do babies hit their heads most often?

Mechanical trauma to the skull is one of the most common reasons why frightened parents turn to traumatology departments. This is by no means due to the children's "stupidity", but because of the special children's anatomy.

The fact is that in babies under the age of five, the head weighs about a quarter of the total body weight. Accordingly, when falling, it hits first. Since there is no self-preservation instinct yet and coordination is poorly developed, the baby does not put his hands in front of him in flight, hence the increased likelihood of a concussion and other troubles.

They save babies from severe head injuries when falling and “fontanelles” that do not grow up to a year, and a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull, which can soften the fall.

Fortunately, most falls turn into only fright and bruises in children and spent nerves of parents. And yet, everyone should know the alarming signs in which it is necessary to provide the baby with first aid.

How to recognize the risk of impact?

When babies begin to crawl and then walk, they very often stumble, hit, fall (and often from a height greater than their height), as a result of which bumps, abrasions, bruises and bruises appear on the head. How exactly can you recognize how dangerous this particular blow or bump is for the health of a fidget? Is it worth showing the child to a pediatrician, neurologist, or immediately go to the emergency department of traumatology?

Forehead injury

If, after falling or hitting an obstacle, the crumbs have a huge bump on their forehead, this is quite normal. Severe swelling is due to a large number of blood vessels bursting during mechanical trauma in the soft tissues of the skull. Hematomas on the forehead are most often round in shape, they quickly subside and stop bothering the fidget and his parents, in most cases they do not have serious consequences.

However, all this is true for older children, falling and hitting the baby’s head should not be left unattended - show the baby to the pediatrician, even if you think that there is no danger. An experienced doctor will examine the baby and reassure the parents.

Trauma to the back of the head

A blow to the back of the head is a serious reason to go to the emergency room of the pediatric traumatology department or to the pediatrician: often such injuries have quite serious consequences. And the younger the baby, the sooner you need to see a doctor, delay can cost the child's eyesight, because in the back of the skull there are nerve endings that connect the visual center of the brain and the eyeballs.

In addition to vision problems, the child may have impaired coordination of movements, develop a tremor. The probability of neurological deviations in development is high.

First aid for mechanical injuries of the skull

After a fall, do not hesitate, inspect the bruised area and assess the severity of the injury. Then provide first aid and, if necessary, call an ambulance. If the bump or cut on the head is very large and looks intimidating, take a photo of the wound on a mobile phone for the doctor (swelling of the soft tissues on the head can go away very quickly).

If a large bump or hematoma appears on the baby's head

Soothe the baby and apply a cold compress to the bruised area or just a bottle of cold water wrapped in a thin cloth. Hold the compress for five minutes and remove it for two to three minutes (to restore blood circulation). This will relieve some pain and stop internal bleeding. Then apply the compress again for five minutes. Repeat these steps for about 20-30 minutes - it is during this time that the final formation of the hematoma occurs.

If there is a bleeding abrasion on the forehead or back of the head

With a sterile cotton swab or a piece of bandage moistened with hydrogen peroxide, treat the abrasion, stop the blood by simply pressing a clean, dry bandage to the wound (you need to press lightly, for three to five minutes).

A child older than two years who will tolerate a slight tingle can be disinfected with rubbing alcohol, vodka, or washed with soap and water.

If the blood continues to flow, despite all the manipulations, call an ambulance.

If after the fall you did not find any damage

Behave as usual, calm the baby and caress him. Tirelessly observe his behavior - any oddities should alert you. The child may begin to act up, complain of headaches and nausea, get tired quickly and sleep unusually long - all these are alarm bells indicating a possible concussion or neurological problems.

If your child roars, complains of nausea and migraines, faints and is discoordinated after hitting his head, call an ambulance immediately.

How to behave if there is a slight suspicion of a concussion?

If the baby is old enough to explain his condition to his parents (he can tell where he hurts, that he is sick or dizzy), and you see no good reason to take him to the doctor, but doubts remain, just watch.

• Immediately after the fall, soothe the baby and put it in bed, keep him busy with quiet games and stories, read a book. Explain that everything is in order, but now you need to lie down a little calmly.
• Watch the baby for several hours for the appearance of alarming symptoms. At least three to four hours, do not let us fall asleep: in a dream, you can miss the worsening of the concussion.
• If the child is very small, wake him up at night and monitor the coordination of movements.
• Observe the fidget for three to four days: if no warning signs were noticed during this period, then the injury passed without complications.

Bad Signs in a Head Injury

Any bruised skull requires careful long-term monitoring of parents at home or doctors in a hospital. For reinsurance after an injury, if you decide to leave your baby at home, exclude his physical and mental stress: forbid reading, watching TV or playing computer. The exception is quiet classical music. In the event of the complications described below, show the baby to the pediatrician.

Anxiety symptoms after a blow to the frontal part of the skull

After hitting the forehead or falling face down, the crumbs may experience the following symptoms, indicating dangerous complications:

• a depression (dent) on the forehead instead of the usual bump;
• lump of abnormally large size;
• vomiting and nausea;
• dizziness, fainting;
• uncontrollable crying, hysteria;
• hard breath;
• blanching of the skin of the face;
• cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;
• enlarged pupils, the appearance of strabismus;
• lethargy and lethargy;
• difficulty speaking;
• discoordination, stiffness of movements;
• ear or nose bleeding.

If a child has at least one of these symptoms after hitting his head, call an ambulance immediately!

Lay the baby on a sofa or bed on their back or side (for babies who are not able to roll over on their side in case of vomiting) and do not give any medications on their own: this can make it very difficult for doctors to diagnose.

Anxiety symptoms after a blow to the back of the head

Occipital mechanical injuries can cause all of the above signs, as well as the following symptoms:

• numbness of the limbs;
• memory loss;
• doubling of the image in the eyes;
• loss of consciousness;
• severe headaches and dizziness.

According to statistics, it is the occipital injuries of the skull that most often lead to a concussion, so they need to be taken seriously.

Toddlers fall back during the beginning of independent movement, with light pushes and loss of balance, while teenagers fall during fights, while rollerblading or regular skating. Older children should be made to wear a helmet to prevent injury.

Possible consequences

The head is one of the most important and vulnerable parts of our body, which is why skull injuries can have irreversible consequences that cause trouble for a lifetime. After hitting the head, the child must be observed. It is possible that he will become whiny, start to sleep poorly and learn school material worse.

The consequences of trauma to the frontal part of the skull

Injuries after a blow to the forehead are of several types:

• Open - soft tissues and bones of the skull are damaged, the injury is accompanied by bleeding and loss of consciousness, pain shock. In these cases, immediate hospitalization is necessary.
• Closed - soft tissue and bone are intact. There are varying degrees of severity and require different treatment tactics.

1. A contusion of the brain is a serious condition, usually accompanied by a prolonged loss of consciousness, nose or ear bleeding. There are bruises around the eyes, speech is difficult. One of the facial nerves responsible for facial expressions may be affected.
2. A concussion is a common condition that occurs after a severe trauma to the skull. It is characterized by vomiting and constant nausea, dizziness, cyanosis of the lips and pallor of the skin on the face. In some cases, these symptoms may not be present, but an unusually poor, restless restless night's sleep is a reason to see a doctor. With concussion put weekly bed rest with a minimum of brain activity.
3. Hematoma or bump, accompanied by swelling of the soft tissues. The baby does not cry for long, soon after the pain is eliminated, he calms down and forgets about the incident.

The consequences of trauma to the occipital part of the skull

In addition to the above complications, blows to the back of the head can give the following consequences:

• distraction, inattention;
• discoordination of movements on one side (usually on the one where the blow fell);
• memory impairment;
• insomnia;
• the occurrence of persistent migraines.

How to avoid injury?

1. Never leave a baby on a sofa, bed without sides or a changing table - it can instantly fall. Plant better on the floor or in his crib.
2. If you are sitting on the couch with a baby, put a couple of large pillows on the floor - this will soften the fall in case of your oversight.
3. In a stroller or car seat, always fasten your baby with a seat belt.
4. When the child begins to learn to walk, a dense carpet will come to your aid - the legs do not slip on it, and falling is not so painful.
5. Get fidget socks with rubber pimples on the sole - this will make it easier for him to walk and prevent falls.
6. Encourage your child to wear a safety helmet while rollerblading, skating, cycling or scootering.
7. Protect your apartment as much as possible: buy rubber pads for sharp corners of furniture.

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 size 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.

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

When small children fall, a blow to the head is inevitable. 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.

A child's body differs in many ways from an adult's, the bones of the skull have not fully fused up to a year (they are easily displaced), and the brain tissue is fragile and immature. All of these factors predispose to more severe brain damage.

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.

Symptoms of a brain injury

Brain concussion manifested by a brief 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 on the first night after injury.

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

If the child fell out of bed and fell in such a way that skull fracture his 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.

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

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 out of bed - first aid

If it appears at the site of impact, you can apply ice in a napkin or something cold. Magnesium has a resolving effect, lotions with such a solution should be done 2 times a day.

In the presence of bleeding, tissue in the form of a tampon is applied to the wound. If the bleeding does not stop for more than 15 minutes, you need to call an ambulance.

If the child fell and hit his forehead or the back of his head, then he should not sleep for an hour (this applies to children older than a year), because. by the adequacy of his answers and reactions to your questions, you can understand whether the brain has suffered. You can (and should) wake up and check your coordination at night.

The child must be monitored very closely and cared for for 7 days if the doctor has allowed to stay at home. The child needs peace and lack of visual stress (especially for children older than 1.5-2 years).

Should I call an ambulance if the child fell and hit his head?

In case of loss of consciousness and severe bleeding from the wound, it is urgent to call an ambulance. Before her arrival, it is better to lay the baby on its side, especially if there is vomiting (in this position, it will not choke).

If a child falls from a great height on his head or back, damage to the spine is possible. Then change the position of the baby should be very careful to avoid injury to the spinal cord.

An ambulance should be called when any of the alarming symptoms appear:

• deterioration of health

• the child "falls asleep on the go", feels dizzy (this applies to older children)

• cramps or twitching of the muscles of the body

• wide pupils do not constrict from bright light or pupils of different sizes

• severe pallor

• blood in urine, stool, or vomit

• muscle paresis or paralysis

In severe brain injuries, appropriate treatment is prescribed only after a thorough examination of the child.

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.