Head Injury (cont.)
How can a head injury be prevented?
Prevention is the best way to treat a head injury.
- In sporting activities,
the use of a helmet may help minimize the risk of injury; similarly, wearing a
helmet while riding a motorcycle or bicycle helps minimize the risk of brain
injury. Seatbelts can help prevent a head injury during a motor vehicle crash.
- Since alcohol is a risk factor for falls and other injuries, it should be
used responsibly.
- Falls are a concern in the elderly. Homes can be made less fall-prone
by installing assist devices on walls and in bathrooms. Loose floor coverings
such as area rugs should be avoided, since walking from one floor covering to
another increases the risk of falls. If needed, canes and walkers may be helpful
as walking assistive devices.
What about a head injury in infants and young children?
Infants are often brought to health care practitioners because of a fall and the
parent's concern that a head injury may exist. Most assessment and management
guidelines discussed above do not apply to children younger than age two.
A minor head injury in an infant is described by the
American Academy of Pediatrics as the following: "a history or physical signs of blunt trauma to the
scalp, skull, or brain in an infant or child who is alert or awakens to voice or
light touch."
Since an infant cannot verbalize specific complaints, the health care
practitioner will look for symptoms that are associated with brain injury and
bleeding in infants. These include the following:
- Altered mental status; that is, the child is not acting or behaving
normally.
- Vomiting
- Scalp abnormalities including lacerations and swelling that may be
associated with skull fracture
- Seizure
A CT scan may be indicated based upon the health care practitioner's assessment
of the child. Plain skull X-rays may be ordered to asses for a fracture, as a
screening tool to determine the need for a CT scan.
Next: Head Injury At A Glance »
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