Concussion in a child: symptoms, signs, treatment

Keeping track of a child is almost impossible, therefore it is children who are most often exposed to various injuries. Head injury is considered the most dangerous since it leads to concussion. How to determine that a child has had a similar misfortune? What actions should be performed in this case?

Concussion refers to traumatic brain injury. It is dangerous to the health of any person and requires hospitalization. High mobility of the child often leads to various falls, bumps and damage to bones.

Between the brain and the cranium, there is liquid cerebrospinal fluid. It is in it that the human brain “floats”. Liquor serves as an additional shock absorber when striking the head and protects the brain substance from damage. In young children, the brain also protects the physiological fontanel in the crown of the head. That is why most of the infant's falls end safely. However, in some cases, a particular head injury can be quite dangerous and pose a threat to human life.

You should know how to properly treat a baby in case of traumatic brain injury, how to properly provide him with peace and quick recovery.

Types of traumatic brain injuries and their stages

The brain structures of the baby are slightly different from the organ of an adult. It is important to know that after an injury, the well-being of a child can deteriorate sharply, so it is important not to leave the baby alone. Parents need to carefully monitor the condition of the child and the manifestations of concussion. It happens that the signs of concussion are completely invisible, and only the pallor of his skin testifies to the poor health of the child.

To understand the whole danger of traumatic brain injury, one should know its varieties. This will help parents correctly provide first aid before the arrival of doctors.

All traumatic brain injuries in medicine are classified into:

• concussion;
• brain contusion;
• more serious brain injury with a broken bone;
• brain injury with a hematoma.

With a very impressive blow, skull injury and concussion or bruising of the brain occur. At the same time, concussion and bruising are two different things. In the first state, the brain does not strike with force against the skull, there is no bone fracture and hemorrhage. Concussion is not a serious injury and goes without consequences for children's health.

A brain injury is a more serious injury. Often it is accompanied by fractures of the skull bones. Even more dangerous is a brain contusion followed by a hematoma inside the cranium.

There are several degrees of concussion:

• I Art. - dizziness, pain in the temporal and occipital parts, drowsiness, weakness;
• II Art. - shallow short-term fainting;
• III art. - Long-term loss of consciousness, pale skin, severe weakness.

Symptoms

The main cause of injury is the injustice of children. Moreover, it doesn’t matter if you entrusted your child to a stranger or you personally observe the child. At any moment, a little man may not turn and fall so. At the beginning of walking, small children are less injured. But here another danger awaits - an abundance of slides on the playground, stairs and other objects. Falling from any stairs or slides, children often get head injuries.

It must be remembered that after the fall of the child, it is important to pay close attention to the condition of the child. There are certain symptoms in which a doctor can diagnose a concussion:

• pallor of the skin;
• vomiting
• impaired movement of the optic pupils;
• loss of consciousness;
• pain in the head area;
• slowing or increasing heart rate;
• expansion or vice versa a significant reduction in pupil size.

After a concussion, the baby’s skin suddenly turns pale, and after its redness occurs. However, this symptom may not be in case of injury. Parents should pay attention to the condition of the eyes of the victim. With a concussion, the synchronization of the movements of the pupils is disturbed, they are enlarged or reduced. The breathing of a small person changes - immediately after receiving an injury, breathing occurs unevenly. Bleeding from the nostrils may be observed.

In some cases, the fall may be accompanied by subsequent syncope. Loss of consciousness may last several minutes. If there is no fainting, then the child usually feels lethargic and weak, his head may hurt. Symptoms of concussion may well be protracted and manifest in sleep disturbance, drowsiness. Often there is tinnitus and dizziness.

You should know that with an injury the body temperature does not increase. She keeps within the normal range. If increased t occurs, then this indicates the penetration of infection into the child's body against a background of head injury. In the first hours after a concussion, the child may be agitated and anxious. Abundant regurgitation in infants, vomiting, and nausea in older children are possible. Symptoms usually do not last more than three days if the blow was not strong.

Doctors say that at home it is impossible to identify whether a fracture of the skull bones has occurred. This shows only an x-ray of the skull. If a child falls down, complains of weakness, nausea and you observe vomiting, drowsiness and inactivity, then you should consult a doctor for examination and research.

First aid

It is important to understand that the competent provision of first aid is of great importance in case of head injury. Doctors say that it is urgent to call an ambulance, to examine the child’s head for damage. If there is a wound, the problem area is treated with a non-alcohol based antiseptic solution. Chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide, is suitable for this purpose. You can not use alcohol solutions in the treatment of head wounds, they can lead to the development of shock. With bleeding, a cotton-gauze swab is used, after which a bandage is applied.

With the first degree of ailment, the child is conscious, but he should certainly be taken to the hospital. Public transport should not be used for this purpose. In the car, you should lay the child and support his head so that the shaking does not swing it. The baby should provide comfort and peace. After examination in a medical institution, the child may not be sent to a hospital, but outpatient treatment may be prescribed.

Grade II concussion is characterized by severe vomiting and drowsiness. The child should not be allowed to fall asleep before the ambulance arrives. The baby should be laid down, but not let him sleep. After sleep, the severity of symptoms of concussion may increase, and the baby’s consciousness becomes clouded.

With the III degree of the disease, you should lay the child on the right side and put the right wrist under the head. The left limb needs to be slightly bent and laid along the trunk. The legs should also be bent at the knees. This position will help protect the child from choking on vomit and fix it with severe convulsions. It is required to call an ambulance.

Diagnostic measures

With a concussion, a number of studies are needed. Performed:

1. X-ray of the skull - helps determine the integrity of the bones.
2. Neurosonography - is an accurate ultrasound examination. The procedure helps to identify brain pathology and give a clear picture of the disease, determine the presence of a hematoma, a focus of injury, and hemorrhage. Diagnosis reveals edema, intracranial disorders.
3. Echo-encephalography - determines the displacement of the midline of the brain, which indicates a brain injury and the appearance of a hematoma. It has low reliability, so doctors recommend an MRI scan for the child.
4. MRI - for young children, the study is performed under general anesthesia. Helps to get a complete picture of the injury, the presence of hemorrhage and the condition of the cranial bones.
5. Electroencephalography - directly examines the activity of the brain, helps to assess the severity and strength of the bruise.
6. Computed tomography - determines the state of all structures of the brain, as well as the base and directly of the cranial vault. Detects hematoma, any existing hemorrhage, the slightest damage to the brain.

The choice of diagnostic method depends directly on the signs of concussion, the severity of symptoms and the capabilities of the clinic. Not every hospital has a CT scanner. In this case, the study can be performed using other devices.

Treatment

The placement of the baby in the hospital depends on the severity of the symptoms and the decision of the doctors. Drug therapy includes the use of anticonvulsants, diuretics and medications that stabilize cerebral circulation. In some cases, pain medications are prescribed.

When I - II Art. the illness of a sick child can be treated at home. The main thing is to protect the small patient from noise and movement, to provide him with complete rest and bed rest. The child should be in bed for at least 3 days. It is necessary to prohibit him from watching TV and a computer, reading books. Such actions have an exciting effect on the brain.

Do not leave the affected child unattended! His condition may worsen. Concussion can be quite insidious and manifest more pronounced symptoms after a while. This indicates the development of complications. Do not self-medicate - if the doctor has prescribed certain tablets, then they must be taken. You can not ignore even minor head injuries, the child after any fall and head injury should be shown to the doctor.

The affected child should not be placed in a position where his head is too low. When vomiting the baby can not be put on his back. If the doctor insists on placing the baby in the hospital, you should not refuse. There, the child will be under constant medical supervision. Hospitalization has several goals:

• prevents injury complication;
• prevents cerebral edema;
• prevents the development of epileptic seizures;
• allows you to provide emergency medical care if the condition of the injured child worsens.

A standard hospital stay takes about 1 week. During this period, all the necessary diagnostic measures are carried out that help doctors determine the nature of the injury with high accuracy and prevent complications. In a hospital, the child also observes bed rest. The child should be completely at ease.

Creating emotional comfort is a major concern in a child's concussion. The kid should be protected from any noise and mobility. Doctors recommend even after discharge adhere to bed rest and protect the child from watching TV.

In case of severe head injury, which is accompanied by loss of consciousness, bed rest should be observed for two weeks. It is necessary to take medications prescribed by your doctor. In some cases, the doctor prescribes nootropic drugs that improve the functioning of neurons and cerebral circulation.

To prevent cerebral edema, are prescribed:

• diuretics to prevent brain edema;
• agents that stimulate blood circulation in the brain;
• sedatives;
• antihistamines;
• vitamins;
• painkillers.

Diakarb is often prescribed as a diuretic - it should be taken within the first 3 days after the concussion.The medicine is prescribed in combination with potassium preparations. They also take sedatives and antihistamines. For headaches, analgesics are used - such as Sedalgin, Baralgin can be prescribed by a doctor. If the condition is accompanied by nausea, Cerucal is prescribed.

It is very important to provide a weakened child with proper nutrition. In the early days, a gentle diet should be present that does not overload the stomach. It is useful to give the baby vegetable and fruit purees, cereals. Food should be easily digestible and nutritious. The diet is important to follow for 1-2 weeks. Then, in the baby’s diet, it is necessary to start introducing meat dishes and soups.

Tremor treatment usually does not take more than 1-2 weeks. In extreme cases, taking nootropic drugs can last about 1 month. However, do not forget about the possible consequences of a traumatic brain injury.

Effects

A severe degree of head injury can develop epilepsy in a child.

The baby can also be tormented by headaches to change the weather.

You should be very careful about the complaints of the child, pay close attention to them and consult a doctor.

Do not save on performing the necessary diagnostics. It will help to identify various disorders in the functioning of the brain and get an answer to the questions why the child is tormented by headaches or other manifestations of a former trauma.

If a pathology is detected, it is important to start treatment in a timely manner in order to avoid deterioration of the baby's health. Properly prescribed therapy will correct violations in the work of the child's body.

Video: head injury in a child