Patient education: Head injury in babies and children under 2 years (The Basics)

What causes head injuries in babies and children? — A head injury can happen when a person hits their head on a hard surface or is hit in the head with something. The most common causes of head injuries in babies and young children are:

●Falls

●Car accidents

●Physical abuse

Babies and children recover from most bumps on the head without problems. But children who hit their head really hard can have serious problems, including brain injury. A "concussion" is the medical term for a mild brain injury.

This article discusses head injuries in babies and children younger than 2 years.

Should my child see a doctor? — Even if your child's injury seems minor, they should see a doctor or nurse right away if they:

●Fell from a height taller than 3 feet

●Are younger than 3 months old

●Are not acting like themselves

●Were hit very hard or with something moving very fast

●Are younger than 12 months and have a bruise the size of a quarter (or bigger) on the scalp

Some children pass out or lose consciousness when they get a head injury. If a baby or child does not wake up quickly, or blacks out several minutes or hours after a head injury, they might have bleeding in the brain and need emergency help.

What are the symptoms of a head injury? — Symptoms depend on the type of injury and how severe it is. Children with a minor head injury might not have any symptoms.

Other symptoms a baby or child can have after a head injury include:

●Acting fussy, very tired, or not like themselves

●Swelling or bruising on the scalp

●Vomiting

●Seizures – Seizures are waves of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. They can make a person pass out, or move or behave strangely.

A head injury that involves a broken skull or face bone can also cause:

●Bruising around the eyes or behind the ear

●Blood or clear fluid draining from the nose or ear

Symptoms can start right after a head injury, or a few hours or days later.

Will my child need tests? — Your child's doctor or nurse will decide which tests your child should have based on their age, symptoms, and individual situation.

Most children with head injuries do not need an imaging test. But if the doctor or nurse suspects serious injury, they might order a special kind of X-ray called a CT scan. CT scans create detailed pictures of the brain and skull.

If available, a test called an MRI can be done instead of a CT scan. An MRI takes longer and might require your child to be sedated. This means that they get medicines to make them very sleepy.

How are head injuries in babies and young children treated? — That depends on how serious the injury is and what symptoms the child has. Often, the doctor will just want to wait and watch the child.

Usually, minor head injuries do not need treatment. But your child's doctor might recommend things like:

●Watching the child for 24 hours after their injury – You should watch for new symptoms or the symptoms listed above. You should also make sure that the child can wake up at a normal time after they fall asleep. It is not usually necessary to wake them up during the night.

●Giving over-the-counter pain medicines – Acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) might help relieve a headache. Ibuprofen (sample brand name: Advil) can be used in babies 6 months and older. Never give aspirin to a child younger than 18 years old.

What problems should I watch for? — If your baby or child had a head injury, there are certain problems that you should watch for.

Get emergency help if the baby or child:

●Is very sleepy (more than expected) or hard to wake up

●Is acting confused, disoriented, or not like themselves

●Is acting very fussy or crying more than usual

●Seems to be having trouble seeing

●Has blood or clear liquid draining from their ears or nose

●Vomits 2 or more times

●Seems dizzy or faints

●Is not moving or walking normally

●Has a seizure, or has jerking of the arms or legs that they cannot control

Can head injuries in babies and young children be prevented? — Here are some safety tips that can reduce your child's chances of getting a head injury. Make sure that they:

●Cannot fall down stairs or out of windows. Use gates and guards to prevent this.

●Are never left alone in a place where they could fall, for example, on a bed or in a highchair without the straps fastened

●Sleep in a crib that they cannot climb out of

●Always ride in a car seat that is the right type and size for them. Make sure that the seat is secured and set up correctly.

●Always wear a helmet if they are riding in a bicycle carrier or towed in a bicycle trailer

Head injuries can also happen if a baby or young child is shaken or handled roughly. Never shake a baby. If you suspect that someone has hurt your child, tell a doctor or nurse right away.

More on this topic

Patient education: Head injury in children and teens (The Basics)
Patient education: Concussion in children and teens (The Basics)
Patient education: Mouth and dental injuries in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Skull fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Headaches in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Head injury observation in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (The Basics)

Patient education: Head injury in children and adolescents (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Seizures in children (Beyond the Basics)