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Date issued: December 2022

Review date: December 2024

Ref: A-526/NB/ED/Head Injury in Children

PDF:  Head Injury in Children final December 2022.pdf [pdf] 123KB

What is a minor head injury?

• Minor head injury and knocks to the head are common. Following the injury, if the person is conscious (awake), and there is no deep cut or severe head damage, it is unusual for there to be any damage to the brain. This is a minor head injury.

Is it ok for my child to go home?

• Yes. We have performed an examination and have not found evidence of serious brain injury. When you / they get home, it is very unlikely that there will be any further problems.

What can I look for at home?

• Any drowsiness (sleepiness) that goes on for longer than an hour when your child would normally be awake

• Difficulty waking up

• Confusion or strange behaviour (not knowing where they are, getting things muddled up)

• Vomiting

• Weakness in an arm or leg

• Very painful headache that does not go away with painkillers

• Dizziness, loss of balance, or problems walking

• Any problems with the eyesight such as blurring of vision or double vision

• Blood, or fluid, leaking from the nose or ear or new deafness.

• Unusual breathing patterns

• Unconsciousness, or lack of full consciousness (for example, problems keeping eyes open)

• Any fits (collapsing or passing out suddenly).

If any of these symptoms do occur, we suggest you bring you child to your nearest Emergency Department as soon as possible.

Can I use painkillers?

• Yes, paracetamol or ibuprofen can be useful.

Is it ok to let my child sleep?

• Some parents are afraid to let their children go to sleep. Please let them go to sleep if this is what they would normally do

• If you have a concern, wake the child up after an hour or so. They may be grumpy about being woken up, but that is reassuring. You can then let him or her go back off to sleep again. You can do this a few times during the night.

What can I do to help my child get better and stay safe whilst recovering?

• DO NOT leave your child alone for the first 24 hours after leaving hospital. Stay within easy reach of a telephone

• DO NOT allow any contact sport (e.g., rugby or football) for at least 3 weeks

• DO NOT allow your child to return to school until you feel they are back to normal.

Things you should not need to return to the Emergency Department with

• Your child may experience other symptoms over the next few days, which should disappear in the next 2 weeks. These include:

  • Mild headache

  • Feeling sick without vomiting

  • Dizziness

  • Bad temper

  • Difficulty in concentrating or with memory

  • Tiredness or difficulty sleeping

  • Lack of appetite

• If these problems do not go away within 2 weeks, then please see your General Practitioner, there is no need to come back to ED.