The teenager hit his head what to look for. What should I do if my child falls and hits his head? Recommendations for parents from a pediatric neurologist

The mobility and restlessness of small children cause troubles and worries to parents. There is no such kid who would not fall at least once and plant a bump on his head.

The baby's skull is quite strong and not always a bruise of the head can cause some serious consequences. However, there are circumstances when a child has a bump, and this fact subsequently negatively affects his health. In any scenario, parents need to monitor the condition of the crumbs after he has fallen, and if suspicious signals are detected, take him to the hospital.

How dangerous are headbutts for children?

It is known that the physiology of the child younger age arranged in a certain way. The skeletal system of the baby is not yet fully formed. At the same time, there is a kind of depreciation during movement. The baby moves as if on springs, and, stumbling, rapidly flies down, while hitting the frontal part or the back of the head.

The baby's head is much heavier than other parts of the body. This factor contributes to the fact that when a fidget falls, it often flies upside down. It is this part of the body of a crumb up to 2 years that is most often covered with hematomas and scratches.

In newborns, on the top of the head there is a so-called large fontanelle (soft, not yet ossified place). The bones of a child's skull are very mobile in the first year of life, so any injury can lead to a bruise of the brain.

If a child hits his head, what should I pay attention to first of all? First of all, you need to remember that not all head injuries can cause serious consequences later in life, so parents should not panic.

A dangerous factor for a child who has filled a bump is the force of impact, the surface on which he hit, as well as the location of the injury (we recommend reading:). Dangerous consequences for children's health and life can occur when:

• the baby hit his temple hard on the corner of some object;
• the child fell while rollerblading or cycling, as a result of which he hit the back of his head on the asphalt;
• the crumbs have repeated vomiting;
• there is a periodic loss of consciousness;
• a month old baby hit the fontanel.

While certain concussion symptoms (problems with speech, vision, coordination) can be seen in older children, these manifestations cannot be seen in infants. The main symptoms of traumatic brain injury in an infant are vomiting, exhausting crying, disturbed sleep, hot forehead, and sometimes short-term loss of consciousness (up to 2 minutes).

What to do if the baby hit his head hard: first aid

The coordination of a one-year-old child is just beginning to take shape, and his attempts to move quickly often end in the appearance of a bump on his forehead (we recommend reading:). If a child hits his head while “flying” from a carousel, slide or stairs, parents need to act without delay. First of all, the mother should:

• inspect the site of injury;
• if a hematoma (bump) is detected, apply a spoon, a piece of ice wrapped in a towel or another cold object to the site of injury, then anoint with a special ointment (Rescuer, Troxevasin or Bruise-off);
• in the presence of blood, it is necessary to treat the sore spot with peroxide or another antiseptic.

Regardless of the type of damage, the baby must be laid so that his head and spinal column are in the same plane. With a severe skull injury, the baby should not be allowed to sleep, so you can overlook the main signs of a concussion or cerebral hemorrhage.

If the child vomits, he should be slowly, without jerking, put on his side. Until the arrival of the medical team, no pills should be given to the patient.

If a situation arises when the baby fell from the changing chest or fell asleep on the sofa, and then fell to the floor, but there are no visible manifestations of concussion, the mother should observe the baby for several days. If, over time, a creeping swelling, vomiting, poor appetite, pallor of the skin appear, you should seek specialized medical help.

What symptoms require immediate medical attention?

Often, little fidgets while playing in parks, on playgrounds, while spending time on carousels and slides, receive various injuries and abrasions. Minor bruises and swelling do not have cause for alarm, but treat the bruised area with an antiseptic and apply cold compress is a mandatory first aid measure.

If you have a head injury, you should immediately contact a traumatologist in the following cases:

• the child’s well-being worsens after a fall, he actually falls asleep on the go;
• there is a sharp blanching of the skin;
• convulsions and paralysis of the limbs;
• the child's pupils have dilated (sometimes one of them is larger than the other);
• dizziness and bouts of vomiting;
• streaks of blood appear in the urine or feces;
• the baby periodically loses consciousness;
• the child constantly starts crying, as the pain syndrome does not go away;
• a large edema formed at the site of impact, rapidly increasing in size;
• the bump does not pass for a long time;
• coordination of movements is broken;
• body temperature has risen.

Such symptoms in case of traumatic brain injuries are typical for children of any age. If at least one of the above symptoms is found in a child, you should immediately go to the emergency room.

When hitting a child on the forehead

The frontal bone of a 5-year-old baby is already quite strong and able to withstand even significant blows. However, if the baby hits the asphalt, concrete or corner of the furniture with great force, then one hematoma on the head will not get off. The consequences of such an attack are:

1. brain contusion (characteristic symptoms: loss of consciousness, speech disorder, cyanosis of the skin around the eyes, discharge from the nose is possible);
2. concussion (symptoms of the condition are dizziness, frequent bouts of vomiting, clouding of mind);
3. soft tissue bruising (considered the safest condition after a blow, swelling or bruising usually forms at the site of the lesion).

Sometimes even an ordinary bump can cause serious diseases. If, after two or three days, the bump has become huge, the pain syndrome has increased, or, conversely, a dent is visualized at the site of the swelling, it is impossible to delay a visit to the emergency room.

When hitting a child on the back of the head

Blows to the back of the head can be the basis for a concussion or head injury. Warning signs that should make parents wary are:

• bad sleep;
• migraine;
• distraction;
• temperature;
• memory impairment;
• disorientation;
• difficult speech;
• numbness of hands and feet.

Dangerous consequences for children's health can be avoided if you do not postpone visiting a traumatologist. With any fall of the child, adults should take a closer look at the condition of the baby after the incident. If uncharacteristic symptoms are found a few hours after an unsuccessful incident, it is better to seek the help of a doctor.

Parents should remember that the symptoms of a blow to the forehead or the back of the head may not appear immediately, but 2-3 days after the incident. In this case, the child's body temperature may rise.

What are the consequences?

It happens that parents do not attach due importance to the bump on the forehead of the baby and are in no hurry to contact the doctors (we recommend reading:). Such frivolous behavior of adults can cause dangerous consequences:

• the appearance of poor sleep (the baby tosses and turns and often wakes up at night);
• violation of the perception of space;
• the occurrence of absent-mindedness, lack of concentration and serious memory problems (the baby has difficulty remembering new material).

There were cases when the consequences of a head injury appeared after a few months and even after a year. Therefore, it is necessary to act in a timely manner, because the most precious thing is at stake - the health and life of the baby.

How is traumatic brain injury treated?

Critical head injuries are treated permanently. To begin with, the child is sent for examination in order to find out the nature of the lesion and determine the tactics of treatment. During the survey, a number of methods and methods can be used:

• ultrasound diagnostics of the skull (do children up to 1.5 years old, until the fontanel has dragged on);
• computed and magnetic resonance imaging;
• puncture of the cerebrospinal fluid (to detect intracranial hemorrhage).

In addition, an accurate diagnosis requires a thorough study of the baby's nervous system, his vision and hearing. The doctor also needs to evaluate the work vestibular apparatus child.

Treatment of mild brain contusions, as well as concussions, is carried out in a hospital. The patient is prescribed complex therapy, which is aimed at:

• normalization of intracranial pressure;
• elimination of cerebral edema;
• restoration of metabolism.

An operative method of treatment is necessary if the baby was diagnosed with compression of the skull or an open craniocerebral injury. The same method of therapy is used for cerebral hemorrhage.

Head Injury Prevention

Babies often fall off the changing table or bed. To prevent this dangerous moment, you can not leave the baby alone, even if he still does not know how to roll over. If yesterday the baby was lying quietly on his back, twitching only his legs and arms, today he can already roll over on his stomach and crawl forward.

If the child likes to be on the couch, it is better to put soft pillows on the floor. In which case, such a measure will soften the landing.

The kid learns something new every day. The first steps are a feat for him. At the same time, he falls and gets hurt. Headbutting can be prevented by:

• cover the floors with soft non-slip rugs;
• put on baby socks with rubberized soles;
• during a walk, do not go far, but it is better to hold the baby by the handle.

It is better to choose strollers with high sides, but so that the seat is not high relative to the ground. Make sure that the baby is constantly fastened with seat belts, especially if he fell asleep. If you live in a high-rise building and you need to overcome stairwells every day, it is better to teach your child to calmly walk up the stairs, holding on to the railing or mother's hand.

When riding a bicycle, scooter or roller skates, it is necessary for the child to wear protective equipment: knee pads, elbow pads, helmet. Thus, it is possible to exclude the occurrence of dangerous craniocerebral injuries.

Caring for the health of the baby, while it grows and develops, lies entirely with the parents. By following simple child care measures, you can minimize the occurrence of dangerous traumatic brain injuries.

The energy of kids contributes not only to the knowledge of the world, but also to getting various kinds of injuries. In crumbs with uncoordinated movements, for the most part, the head suffers. When preparing for the arrival of a new family member, it is worth evaluating home environment in terms of the presence of traumatic objects (for example, furniture with sharp corners) and try to remove them.

But even this will not completely protect the young researcher, because he can fall even on a flat floor, learning to walk. In the event that a child hits his head, you should quickly, without panicking, assess the severity of the injury. It depends on the strength and place of the blow whether it will be just a bump or whether it is worth rushing to the hospital.

Indeed, often a forehead blow is accompanied only by a bruise of soft tissues - a lump appears on the head of a child. It is formed in the same way as any bruise, but will be convex due to a large number small vessels that burst and fill nearby tissues with blood.

Serious injuries with such a blow are unlikely, since a strong frontal bone reliably protects the head. But you should play it safe and call a pediatrician if a newborn hits his forehead. The younger the victim, the more serious the consequences of a hematoma on the forehead.

However, a strong blow can provoke a traumatic brain injury. The open injury is obvious: there is a wound on the head and obvious damage to the bones. It is treated surgically in combination with the appointment of drugs.

In a closed injury, the skin and bones are intact externally, but there are internal injuries, the signs of which should be known.

Closed craniocerebral injuries vary in severity:

1. When a brain injury usually occurs loss of consciousness, breathing is disturbed. Ear or nose bleeding may occur dark circles around the eyes, speech problems, facial expression disorders due to damage to the facial nerve. For the treatment of a mild bruise, a course of drugs is prescribed, and only a surgeon can eliminate the consequences of a strong one.
2. A concussion from a blow is often diagnosed by doctors and is usually treated with medication without further complications. With a concussion, a child may be unconscious for several minutes, and then experience nausea, vomiting, and a headache. If the doctor prescribed medication and prescribed home bed rest, but the patient has a stable restless sleep or other disturbing signs, it would be useful to call a pediatrician at home.
3. A skull fracture may be suspected by bloody discharge from the ears and nostrils. It is urgent to go to the hospital to do an x-ray. Treatment in this case involves surgery followed by medication.

A blow to the back of the head is no less dangerous

A blow to the back of the head can lead to visual impairment. The occipital lobe of the brain is responsible for the functioning of the organs of vision. Moreover, the consequences may not affect immediately, but after some time. Therefore, even in the absence of complaints from the victim, it would be wiser to quickly show a specialist who knows what to do if the child hits the back of the head.

A rare, but extremely unpleasant complication occurs if the child hits the back of the head on the left side. Sometimes victims develop disturbances in the perception of the surrounding space on the left, they begin to forget everything, sleep poorly, and suffer from headaches. Similar phenomena can be observed with damage to the occiput on the right.

A strong blow to the back of the head can cause a head injury in the same way as a blow to the forehead.

What to do when a mother falls

1. Pity and calm the baby after the fall, and then examine it from all sides, starting with the head, for scratches, bruises, bleeding wounds on the forehead and on the back of the head.
2. Calm down yourself and assess whether the fall was really serious. If the baby slid off the sofa onto the carpet and bumped, then he cries more from fright and gets off with a bruise. But if he fell out of a high stroller and hit his head on the asphalt, mom should worry.
3. A grown child is able to talk about what happened. You should ask him if his head hurts or not, if there is clouding in the eyes. Pupils should not be constricted or dilated.
4. Measure the pulse and compare the data with the age norm (in newborns it reaches 130-140 beats per minute, then it becomes less frequent as they grow older). Deviations from the norm should alert.
5. Eliminate noisy entertainment and visual stress, but do not let sleep. During sleep, it will be more difficult to diagnose a concussion, if one is present.
6. It must be borne in mind that if, after hitting, the child does not cry for several minutes, then most likely he lost consciousness.
7. Treat damaged skin. Small abrasions are disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, after which wound healing ointments are applied. And if the child has stuffed a lump, then cooling compresses are applied to it for 3 minutes to avoid swelling. In case of severe bleeding that could not be stopped in a quarter of an hour, as well as the appearance of the above symptoms, it is worth calling a doctor.
8. Schedule a visit to the clinic soon. It is necessary to show a child who hit his head to a pediatrician to assess the general condition, to an ophthalmologist to rule out visual disturbances after a blow, and to a neurosurgeon to get a referral for a brain examination.

Warning signs to avoid staying at home

If a child falls and hits his head, the most frightening consequence is brain damage. Moreover, its symptoms may not appear instantly, but after a few hours.

Calling an ambulance should be immediate if the following symptoms appear:

• loss of consciousness;
• deviation of the pulse rate from the age norm;
• bleeding from the ears or nose;
• vomiting, diarrhea with traces of blood;
• blue or pale skin;
• darkened skin under the eyes and behind the ears;
• deterioration in coordination of movements, twitching, numbness of the limbs;
• change in pupil size, strabismus;
• lethargy, drowsiness, change in the mode and nature of sleep, tearfulness;
• lack of appetite;
• the child has a bump that is too swollen or has a hollow instead of a bump.

While waiting for the arrival of the doctor, you should put the baby to bed, while distracting him and not allowing him to fall asleep. When vomiting, it is better to turn it on its side so that no liquid enters the respiratory tract. Pain medications taken before the doctor arrives can interfere with the assessment of the baby's condition.

If the child fell on his back and hit, then there is a possibility of spinal injury, you need to handle him very carefully to avoid additional displacement of the vertebrae.

What to Expect Upon Admission to the Hospital

The doctor will examine the victim, ask him or his parents to tell about the blow, clarify whether he hit the back of the head or forehead, assess the damage and inform about further actions.

Probably, the baby will be sent for computed tomography of the brain to exclude hemorrhages and fractures.
Patients up to one and a half years old are examined through a fontanel that has not yet been closed.

How to protect your child's head from blows

With a baby, you should always be on the lookout. This applies even to a newborn, who, it would seem, cannot even turn on his side yet. After all, it is the absence of a mother that can encourage a baby to learn coups right on the changing table.

Such tables are convenient for parents, but, from a safety point of view, a large soft surface (a bed or a blanket spread on the floor) is preferable for changing clothes. Let the baby be always supervised or in a safe area - in the arena.

It is unwise to neglect the seat belts in a wheelchair. Although the baby is not yet able to get out of it, nothing can guarantee that the stroller will not turn over when it hits a bump. Straps will keep the little passenger from falling onto the road. It is not in vain that belts are also provided on high chairs, because a fall from such a height onto the floor or tile may result in injury.

When the baby begins to explore the space at home and often hits, you need to look at the surrounding objects from the height of his height and secure each sharp corner with silicone pads. For children learning to walk special socks and tights with non-slip soles.

Toddlers often stumble and bump when going down stairs, so you need to keep the child's hand in your hand. While climbing the stairs, you must also hold your hand or secure the little one from behind, as there is a danger of falling on your back.

A lot of injuries happen on the playground. It is dangerous to play next to older children, it is better to distract and take your baby away. If you can’t leave, then the mother should be next to the child. You need to be especially vigilant near swings, carousels and other moving structures.

Children who have shown a desire to learn roller skates or a balance bike should immediately be taught that it is imperative to wear a helmet. The young athlete should also be explained how to fall correctly.

Parents should know what to do if the child still hit his head. And you need to patiently explain to your children how important it is not to bump. Babies just need to be protected, and older children should be taught household safety rules.

Often our children fall and we ask ourselves: "should I call an ambulance?". Here, I found an interesting article on one of the sites about the signs of traumatic brain injury and first aid for a child.

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? It all depends on the severity of the damage, but the most important thing is to calm down and think soberly.

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 tissues are 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 injury
- compression of the brain

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

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.

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. In more late age such a study will not work if a large fontanel is overgrown.

The child fell out of bed - first aid

If a bump 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 well-being
- the child "falls asleep on the go", feels dizzy (this applies to older children)
- spasms 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, feces, or vomit
paresis or paralysis of muscles

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.

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. There is no 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.

Excessively active children become a headache for parents. It is difficult to keep an eye on the baby, he constantly climbs somewhere and studies tirelessly the world. Such activity in some cases leads to trouble. For example, a child will fall and be injured. Should loved ones be concerned? Doctor Komarovsky will help you figure it out.

Don't panic

First of all, Komarovsky advises parents not to panic. A well-known doctor emphasizes: cases of falling usually do not lead to dangerous consequences. For the most part, only parents suffer, or rather, their nervous system. When a child falls, the body reliably protects itself from serious injury. Headbutting will not necessarily cause damage. Protect against defects

• "Fannels" of the skull, protecting against sharp fluctuations in pressure in the head;
• large volumes of cerebrospinal fluid that can absorb shocks;
• softness of the bones, due to which there is little danger of fracture, and so on.

But attention to such situations will not be superfluous. A child who hits his head needs special supervision. Komarovsky emphasizes that parents should watch for warning signs. If you find them, you will have to consult a doctor as soon as possible. What symptomatic manifestations are especially important?

Dangerous Consequences

There is a huge number negative consequences"landing" the child not on his feet, but on his head. They appear extremely rarely, so parents should not fall into hysterics. Komarovsky names the following symptoms, which should make you alert.

1. Disturbances of consciousness. If the child has ceased to adequately respond to what is happening, the help of a specialist is required.
2. Difficulties with speech. This is important for children who have already begun to speak normally.
3. Drowsiness and unusual for the baby indifference to the environment.
4. Severe headaches that are not localized specifically at the site of the bruise and last for several hours.
5. Repetitive vomiting. One bout of vomiting after falling and hitting your head is not a bad symptom. A few attacks is already a big risk.
6. Difficulty with balance or control of limbs lasting more than an hour.
7. Any discharge from the nose or ears, including blood.
8. Blue spots under the eyes against the background of blanching of the skin of the face.

Having noticed the symptoms, it is impossible to delay calling an ambulance. Delay is fatal.

How to help

The first priority for parents is to keep calm. The more coolly they can behave, the higher the likelihood of a favorable outcome. What to do after the crumbs fall on the head? Here, again, Komarovsky gives excellent recommendations.

1. The described symptoms indicate very serious damage. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately call a doctor, without delay. Prior to arrival, the injured child should be provided with calm conditions. Any stress factors are excluded. It is better to put the child on its side. The resulting vomiting will begin to depart unhindered.
2. If there are no obvious injuries, it is enough to put on the area of ​​​​the head where the blow fell, moistened with cold water rag. Then the pain will decrease. Such an effect will stop bleeding and prevent severe swelling from developing.
3. Are there any visible effects of the impact? All the same, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the child for the next day. He needs peace and constant control. To make sure that there are no serious injuries, you should check whether the child is able to adequately answer questions. It can also be done according to the coordination of the baby. There should be no dizziness and repeated falls.

The occurrence of noticeable disorders during the first day after falling on the head Komarovsky considers an important diagnostic criterion. A blow does not necessarily result in a concussion. Possible brain injury or spinal injury. And these effects are not easy to see. If you suspect a serious injury, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. He will make sure that the "flight" does not affect the development of the baby.

Perhaps there is no such child who has never fallen and hit his head. This is especially true for babies who are learning to crawl or walk. At this age, small falls and bruises are inevitable. The task of parents is to ensure maximum safety for the child and teach him to properly coordinate his movements.

However, there are situations when, after a fall and a blow to the head, a child may experience alarming symptoms that indicate a head injury. In this case, it is necessary to show the child to the doctor as soon as possible. What should you do if your child has fallen and what should you pay attention to in the first place.

How dangerous are head blows in young children?

Many parents may recall that their children, when they were young, kept falling and hitting their heads. After all, at first the baby learns to sit and cannot always keep his balance, then he learns to crawl and walk, not always deftly and quickly gets up. And the head, as the heaviest part of the body, takes most of the blows on itself.

Yet it provided by nature, since children have large and small fontanelles on their heads, it is thanks to them that the blow is amortized and does not always pose a danger to the health of the baby. In addition, in younger children, there is more fluid between the bones of the skull and the brain than in adults. It also performs a protective function for the child.

Therefore, most of the blows and falls for the child end safely. However, parents need to know which signs and characteristics of the child's behavior may indicate and require immediate medical attention.

Inspection of the impact site and first aid

If your child has fallen and hit his head, the first thing to do is examine the impact site and try to qualify the severity of the damage.

• A lump (hematoma) formed at the site of impact. In this case, first of all, a cold compress should be applied - it can be any fruit or a bag from the refrigerator, or a bottle of chilled liquid. Try to hold the compress on the bruised area for at least 3-4 minutes, this will help prevent severe swelling.
• A wound formed at the site of impact and blood flows from the abrasion. Moisten a cotton swab or gauze pad with hydrogen peroxide and apply it to the abrasion to prevent infection. If after ten minutes the bleeding has not stopped, call an ambulance!
• There is no visible damage at the impact site.. In this case, you only have to carefully monitor the child's condition for 2-3 days and note uncharacteristic behavior for him. This may be excessive, drowsiness, complaints of headache, excessive tearfulness, and so on.

Before seeing a doctor, do not give your baby no painkillers, as this will significantly complicate the examination of the child.

Immediately after the injury, try not to give baby fall asleep, since in this case you will not be able to fairly objectively assess his condition.

Provide your child peace, do not play outdoor games. Let the child lie quietly on his side.

Warning symptoms after hitting your head: when to see a doctor

In any case, after any head injury, it is necessary watch the child especially carefully - a few hours after the impact, and pay attention to his well-being for another two to three days.

What symptoms should be looked out for? If you notice one or more of these signs of a traumatic brain injury, contact your doctor immediately. Of course, this may turn out to be a mere coincidence, but in this case, it is better to play it safe in order not to lose time if the child needs treatment.

• Drowsiness, lethargy, lethargy
• Tearfulness uncharacteristic for a child
• Different sizes of pupils of the eyes
• Episode of loss of consciousness immediately after impact
• Vomiting or child's complaints
• For infants - frequent and uncharacteristic regurgitation
• Dizziness, inability to balance
• Complaints about tinnitus
• Bleeding from the nose or from the ears
• Lack of appetite or complete refusal to eat
• Bad disturbing dream
• Speech or hearing disorders in a child, complaints of poor vision
• Headache
• Paleness of the skin
• The appearance of bruises under the eyes

Possible injuries and consequences of hitting the head in a child

Traumatic brain injuries that a child could have received during a fall are divided into open and closed.

TO closed injuries in turn are

• brain compression
• brain contusion
• brain concussion

The most serious damage is compression- in this case, a bruise may be accompanied by rupture of blood vessels, with a bruise foci of destruction of the substance of the brain are observed. Shake the brain is the easiest injury. In this case, the brain is not damaged, and at the site of impact, we can detect a hematoma or bruise.

Prevention of head injuries in children (VIDEO)

Babies under one year old often fall off beds, sofas, or changing tables. Never leave them unattended at a height from the floor! Even if the child is not yet able to roll over or crawl, he can reach the edge of the table or bed and fall headfirst. If the baby already knows how to roll over, crawl, then it is safest to leave him on the floor. Lay out a rug or a diaper for him and put it down if you need to go away on business. In this case, you can be sure of its safety. Children fall off the couch most often when their mothers leave them "just for a minute." On the changing table, always hold the baby with one hand. If you need to go away or even turn away for a diaper or powder, take your baby with you.