When is head injury serious

We also offer guidelines about how to:. And we emphasize concussion education. We help you recognize the signs of a concussion so you can pull yourself out of play sooner.

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Suspect a Concussion? Hit Your Head? Know When to Call a Doctor. Trending Topics. What Parents Need to Know. Epidural hematomas occur when a blood clot forms underneath the skull, but on top of the dura, the tough covering that surrounds the brain. They usually come from a tear in an artery that runs just under the skull called the middle meningeal artery. Epidural hematomas are usually associated with a skull fracture.

Subdural hematoma. Subdural hematomas occur when a blood clot forms underneath the skull and underneath the dura, but outside of the brain. These can form from a tear in the veins that go from the brain to the dura, or from a cut on the brain itself. They are sometimes, but not always, associated with a skull fracture. Contusion or intracerebral hematoma.

A contusion is a bruise to the brain itself. A contusion causes bleeding and swelling inside of the brain around the area where the head was struck. Contusions may occur with skull fractures or other blood clots such as a subdural or epidural hematoma.

Bleeding that occurs inside the brain itself also called intraparenchymal hemorrhage can sometimes occur spontaneously. When trauma is not the cause, the most common causes are long-standing, high blood pressure in older adults, bleeding disorders in either children or adults, or the use of medications that cause blood thinning or certain illicit drugs. Diffuse axonal injury DAI.

These injuries are fairly common and are usually caused by shaking of the brain back and forth, which can happen in car accidents, from falls or shaken baby syndrome. Diffuse injuries can be mild, such as with a concussion, or may be very severe, as in diffuse axonal injury DAI.

In DAI, the patient is usually in a coma for a prolonged period of time, with injury to many different parts of the brain. There are many causes of head injury in children and adults. The most common traumatic injuries are from motor vehicle accidents automobiles, motorcycles, or struck as a pedestrian , from violence, from falls, or as a result of child abuse.

Subdural hematomas and brain hemorrhages called intraparenchymal hemorrhages can sometimes happen spontaneously. When there is a direct blow to the head, shaking of the child as seen in many cases of child abuse , or a whiplash-type injury as seen in motor vehicle accidents , the bruising of the brain and the damage to the internal tissue and blood vessels is due to a mechanism called coup-countrecoup.

A bruise directly related to trauma, at the site of impact, is called a coup pronounced COO lesion. As the brain jolts backwards, it can hit the skull on the opposite side and cause a bruise called a countrecoup lesion.

The jarring of the brain against the sides of the skull can cause shearing tearing of the internal lining, tissues, and blood vessels that may cause internal bleeding, bruising, or swelling of the brain. The person may have varying degrees of symptoms associated with the severity of the head injury.

The following are the most common symptoms of a head injury. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:. Moderate to severe head injury requires immediate medical attention --symptoms may include any of the above plus:.

Loss of short-term memory, such as difficulty remembering the events that led right up to and through the traumatic event. One pupil dark area in the center of the eye is dilated, or looks larger, than the other eye and doesn't constrict, or get smaller, when exposed to light. Coma a state of unconsciousness from which a person cannot be awakened; responds only minimally, if at all, to stimuli; and exhibits no voluntary activities. Vegetative state a condition of brain damage in which a person has lost his thinking abilities and awareness of his surroundings, but retains some basic functions such as breathing and blood circulation.

Locked-in syndrome a neurological condition in which a person is conscious and can think and reason, but cannot speak or move. The symptoms of a head injury may resemble other problems or medical conditions. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis. The full extent of the problem may not be completely understood immediately after the injury, but may be revealed with a comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnostic testing.

The diagnosis of a head injury is made with a physical examination and diagnostic tests. During the examination, the doctor obtains a complete medical history of the patient and family and asks how the injury occurred. Trauma to the head can cause neurological problems and may require further medical follow up. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission.

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See more conditions. Request Appointment. Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury? Products and services. Recently, my daughter got kicked in the head during a soccer game. She seemed fine at the time, but later developed a sizable lump on her forehead. Is this a concern? Answer From John Atkinson, M. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information.

Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Meehan SP, et al. Concussion in children and adolescents: Clinical manifestations and diagnosis.

Accessed March 7, Head injury. American Academy of Pediatrics. Schutzman S. Minor head injury in infants and children: Management. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Concussion signs and symptoms. Patient education: Head injury in children and adolescents Beyond the Basics. Traumatic brain injury. Merck Manual Professional Version.