What Should Parents Know When Their Child Is Injured at a Young Age?
Categories: Being a Caregiver
By Fay Smith
Childhood is a time for exploration and adventures. As children grow, they love to experiment, move around, and satisfy their curiosity about their surroundings. Unfortunately, such explorations also mean that accidents and injuries are inevitable.
Brain injury is one of the types of injuries most prevalent in children. In fact, traumatic brain injury (TBI) from falls and motor vehicle incidents covers 30% of reported child injury.1
A concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a type of brain injury that is usually caused by trauma to the head. It affects the brain’s normal functions for a temporary or permanent time.
Concussions can happen to children at any age. Due to limited balance and coordination in children2, they are highly vulnerable to traumatic brain injury.
It can be difficult to identify a concussion right away, especially in young children. Since children have trouble verbalizing how they’re feeling, parents might not be able to recognize when something is wrong.
Another thing that makes it hard to identify a concussion is that its symptoms do not always appear right away. Sometimes, hours or even days may pass before a concussion becomes evident.
The signs of a concussion are similar at any age. Here is a list of symptoms to watch out for:
- Babies: crying when you move the baby’s head, irritability, interruption in the baby’s sleeping patterns, vomiting
- Toddlers: headache, nausea or vomiting, behavior changes, changes in sleep patterns excessive crying
- Older Children (2 years and above): dizziness or balance problems, double or blurry vision, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to noise, looking like they’re daydreaming, difficulty concentrating, trouble remembering, confusion or forgetfulness about recent events, slow to answer questions, changes in mood, drowsiness, changes in sleep patterns, difficulty sleeping
What Parents Should Do
Not all head bumps will need a trip to the hospital. Parents should observe their child and watch out for any changes in behavior. If the child is active and exhibits normal behavior, there shouldn’t be any cause for concern.
But if any of the symptoms mentioned above appear, parents should take their child to the doctor. Seek immediate medical attention if the child:
- Is vomiting
- Is difficult to wake up
- Has a seizure
- Has lost consciousness for more than a minute
- Has unequal or larger than normal pupils
What Happens After a Brain Injury
Neuroimaging or the diagnostic imaging of the brain is crucial to show possible complications that a child may develop after suffering from a TBI3. Doctors might use CT or MRI scans to check for any bleeding in the brain. To learn more about imaging, read the Pediatric mTBI Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The most important thing in the treatment of a concussion in children is rest. The brain needs time to heal, and this can take months or even longer. Parents may wish to limit the use of smartphones, tablets, or screens of any kind after their child has sustained a concussion. These gadgets may cause overstimulation of the brain and slow down recovery. Sleep is the best way to let the brain recover, so encourage nap times and early bedtimes.
If there are any signs of regression, parents should take the child to the doctor again for a checkup. To learn more about recovery after your child’s concussion, check out these CDC resources:
- Discharge Instructions: Caring for Your Child’s Concussion
- Recovery Tips: How Can I Help My Child Recover After a Concussion?
If you need personalized support or resources, contact BIAA’s National Brain Injury Information Center at 1-800-444-6443 or email us at info@biausa.org.
References
- McKinlay A, Grace RC, Horwood LJ, Fergusson DM, Ridder EM, MacFarlane MR. Prevalence of traumatic brain injury among children, adolescents and young adults: prospective evidence from a birth cohort. Brain Inj. 2008 Feb;22(2):175-81. doi: 10.1080/02699050801888824. PMID: 18240046.
- Peden M, Oyegbite K, Ozanne-Smith J, et al., editors. World Report on Child Injury Prevention. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2008. 1, Child injuries in context.
- Suskauer, S. J., & Huisman, T. A. (2009). Neuroimaging in pediatric traumatic brain injury: current and future predictors of functional outcome. Developmental disabilities research reviews, 15(2), 117–123.
