Medical Head Injury- It Could be Fatal if Not Treated in Time
Head trauma is an injury that affects only the skull, usually caused by a strong impact. It can cause severe damage to the brain, such as a bruise, bleeding, or blood clot. In the latter case, head trauma is called traumatic brain injury. If left untreated, it can be fatal. The symptoms depend on the force of the impact and the severity. Bleeding from the head, ear, or face, fainting, memory loss, and vision changes are common signs.
In some cases, it is necessary to undergo rehabilitation with a physiatrist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist to reduce the adverse effects and improve the person’s quality of life who has suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of head trauma can appear immediately after the accident or appear only after a few hours, or even weeks, after the blow to the head, the most common of which are:
- Fainting and memory loss
- Difficulty seeing or loss of vision
- Severe headache
- Confusion and altered speech
- Loss of balance
- Vomiting
- Severe bleeding from the head or face
- The output of blood or clear liquid through the nose and ears
- Excessive sleepiness
- Black eye or purple spots on the ears
- Pupils of different sizes
- Loss of sensation in some parts of the body
I hope you remember Bob Saget’s head injury; it can be drastic if left untreated. In children, symptoms of head trauma can also include persistent crying, excessive restlessness or sleepiness, vomiting, refusal to eat, and head depression. If a person presents these symptoms, it is necessary to call an ambulance to carry out specialized care. However, it is essential not to move the victim, check for breathing, and, if the person is not breathing, a cardiac massage is required.
Types of head trauma
Head trauma can be classified into several types, depending on the severity of the blow, the degree of brain damage, and the symptoms presented.
Mild: This is the most common type, in which the person recovers more quickly, as minor brain injuries characterize it.
Moderate: it consists of a lesion that affects a larger area of ??the brain, and the person has a greater risk of having complications.
Severe: based on extensive brain injuries, with significant bleeding in the head, and, in these situations, the person must be hospitalized in an ICU.
In any of these situations, the neurologist will evaluate the affected areas of the brain by performing a computed tomography scan. From this, the most appropriate and safest treatment will be recommended.
Treatment options
The treatment for head trauma depends on the type, severity, and extent of the lesions in the brain. In milder cases, the doctor may recommend using pain medication, suturing or dressings, and a period of surveillance if the person does not show signs and symptoms of seriousness.
However, in moderate to severe head trauma cases, surgery may be indicated to relieve pressure on the head and reduce bleeding and, therefore, ICU admission. The person may have to stay for many days until they recover.
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