Community Health Network

• Injuries to the head

Types of Head Injuries

• SCALP INJURY: Most head injuries only damage the scalp (a cut, scrape, bruise or swelling).  It is common for children to fall and hit their head at some point while growing up.  This is especially common when a child is learning to walk. Big lumps (bruises) can occur with minor injuries because there is a large blood supply to the scalp.  For the same reason, small cuts on the head may bleed a lot.  Bruises on the forehead sometimes cause black eyes 1 to 3 days later because the blood spreads downward by gravity. 
• SKULL FRACTURE: Only 1% to 2% of children with head injuries will get a skull fracture.  Usually there are no other symptoms except for a headache at the site where the head was hit.  Most skull fractures occur without any injury to the brain and they heal easily.
• CONCUSSION: A concussion is a mild injury to the brain that changes how the brain normally works.  It is usually caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head.  Many children bump or hit their heads without causing a concussion.  The most common signs of a concussion are a brief period of confusion or memory loss following the injury. Other signs of a concussion can include a headache, vomiting, dizziness, acting dazed, or being knocked out.  A person does NOT need to be knocked out (lose consciousness) to have had a concussion. Following a concussion, some children have ongoing symptoms such as mild headaches, dizziness, thinking difficulties, school problems or emotional changes for several days to weeks. 
• BRAIN INJURIES are rare but are recognized by the presence of the following symptoms:
  (1) Difficult to awaken, or keep awake OR (2) confused thinking and talking, OR (3) slurred speech, OR (4) weakness of arms or legs OR (5) unsteady walking.