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Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours. Children are allowed to sleep, but should be woken every four hours to check their condition and gauge their reaction to familiar things. What to expect after a head injury There is no specific treatment for mild head injury other than plenty of rest and not overdoing things.

Keep in mind that: It is common to not be able to remember the events surrounding the head injury. It is normal to feel more tired than usual.

It can take some time for the brain to recover from a head injury. During this time, headaches, dizziness and mild cognitive thought problems are common. Brain function problems can include mood changes and difficulties with concentrating, remembering things and performing complex tasks.

Most people make a full recovery and the symptoms only last a few days. Some people have ongoing symptoms. If this is the case, visit your local doctor. When to seek urgent medical care Seek urgent medical care if you have: Severe headaches Vomited more than twice Memory problems Blackouts A seizure fit or spasm of arms, legs or face Difficulty staying awake Blood or clear fluid coming from your ears or nose Neck stiffness Numbness, tingling, pins and needles, or weakness in your arms or legs Confusion, slurred speech or unusual behaviour Blurred or double vision Dizziness A high temperature, which may indicate the presence of infection Any other concerns.

Resuming activities after a head injury It is best to wait until you are feeling better before you go back to your normal activities. Where to get help In an emergency, always call triple zero Your doctor Emergency department of your nearest hospital.

Things to remember Always seek medical attention for a head injury. It can take some time for the brain to recover from a head injury and during this time, headaches, dizziness and mild cognitive thought problems are common. Concussion, eMedicineHealth. More information here. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful?

Head Injury. Is this your child's symptom? Most head injuries only damage the scalp. Examples are a cut, scrape, bruise or swelling. It is common for children to fall and hit their head while growing up.

This is especially common when a child is learning to walk. Big lumps bruises can occur with minor injuries. This is 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. This is caused by blood spreading downward by gravity. Skull Fracture. Most often, there are no other symptoms except for a headache. The headache occurs at the site where the head was hit.

Most skull fractures occur without any injury to the brain. Most concussed people recover quickly and can be treated at home, while others have symptoms that last for days or weeks and need medical attention. For more information on conditions that affect the brain, visit our Neurology Clinic page or make an appointment today.

Choose which site to search. The following activities may be allowed after 1 to 2 days of rest as long as they do not cause symptoms to increase very much. Your child should stop any activity that causes symptoms until seeing their physician. Participation in the following activities is not allowed until the doctor says it is OK:. Avoid any activity that will put your child at risk for another head injury until the brain heals. A repeat injury before the brain heals can slow recovery and cause long-term problems.

Most children return to school in 2 to 5 days following a concussion. It is best for them to stay home if symptoms are bad enough to prevent learning or they cannot make it through at least a half day of school.

You will know your child has recovered when they can do regular activities without having concussion symptoms. Passenger safety.