Head Injury: Knowing when it's serious and when it’s not

Head Injury: Knowing when it’s serious and when it’s not

May 19, 2024 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists, News

Dr. Zulfikar Bux
Emergency Medicine Specialist

Kaieteur News – Traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a global public-health problem, which afflicts 55 million people worldwide, costs over US$400 billion (£350 billion) per year, and is a leading cause of injury-related death and disability. When someone suffers from a head trauma, it is vital that they know when there is a risk of it being serious. Today, I will shed some light on signs and symptoms of head injury to help differentiate between when it may be serious and when it may not be.

Mild traumatic brain injury

The signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury may include:

Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Fatigue or drowsiness
Difficulty sleeping
Sleeping more than usual
Dizziness or loss of balance
Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth or changes in the ability to smell
Sensitivity to light or sound

Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can include any of the signs and symptoms of mild injury, as well as the following symptoms that may appear within the first hours to days after a head injury:

Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
Persistent headache or headache that worsens
Repeated vomiting or nausea
Convulsions or seizures
Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
Inability to awaken from sleep
Loss of coordination
Appearing very confused
The patient is behaving unusually.
Slurred speech
Unconsciousness

Are the symptoms different in children?
Infants and young children with brain injuries may lack the communication skills to report headaches, sensory problems, confusion and similar symptoms. In a child with traumatic brain injury, you may observe:

Change in eating or nursing habits
Persistent crying and inability to be consoled
Unusual or easy irritability
Change in ability to pay attention
Change in sleep habits
Sad or depressed mood
Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities

Intoxicated persons
This is a special group since they are more prone to injuring their head and when they do, it’s more difficult to determine their level of head injury. An intoxicated person can mimic signs/symptoms of head injury without injuring their head. It is therefore recommended that if an intoxicated person sustains trauma to their head, they should be brought for medical assessment once the mechanism of injury is deemed to be serious.

When to see a doctor

You should see your doctor if you or a child has received a blow to the head or body that concerns you or causes behavioral changes. Once there is a person exhibiting any of the above listed symptoms/signs after injuring their head, they should be brought for emergency medical assessment. The terms “mild,” “moderate” and “severe” are used to describe the effect of the injury on brain function. A mild injury to the brain is still a serious injury that requires prompt attention and an accurate diagnosis.

We should all make strong efforts to protect ourselves and others from sustaining brain injury. It often happens in times of negligence. A world with less violence, no drug abuse, no drinking and driving and more thoughtful thinking would mean a world with far less head injuries; food for thought!

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