Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Head Injury
What is Head Injury?
Any injury to your brain or skull is called a head injury. It can range from a mild scar to a severe brain injury. Common head injuries include skull fractures and skull wounds. The outcome and treatment of such injuries vary greatly. It depends on how severe your head injury is.
Types of Head Injury
Head injuries are of two types- closed or open
A closed head injury is an injury that does not injure your head.
An open injury is one in which the head explodes and affects the brain.
It can be difficult to tell how serious a head injury is from a distance. Some minor injuries bleed a lot, while some major injuries do not bleed at all. All head injuries need to be treated seriously and evaluated by a doctor.
How Common Is Head Injury?
Head injury can happen to anyone. This can be counted as a common injury.
Head injury occurs during an accident.
It is important to get immediate treatment for a head injury.
This injury can have many fatal effects.
Symptoms of Head Injury
Headache
Dizziness
Getting nausea
Whistling sound in ears
Fainting
Vomit
Loss of balance
Inability to focus eyes
Abnormal eye movements
Loss of muscle control
Persistent or worsening headache
Memory loss
Mood swing
Fluid leaking from the ear or nose
When should I see the doctor for Head Injury?
If any of the given symptoms are seen, see a doctor immediately
Everyone's body works differently, so see a doctor right away with a head injury.
A head injury should never be ignored.
Causes of Head Injury
One is a head injury caused by an accident and the other is a head injury caused by aftershocks. Head injuries from movement are most common in infants and young children. Head injury can occur due to the following reasons-
Road accident
Falling
Fight injury
Sports accidents
In most cases your treatment will protect your brain from serious damage. However, severe head injuries can also be associated with spinal injuries.
Diagnosis of Head Injury
One of the first methods doctors test for head injury is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). GCS tests your mental state. If the GCS score is higher than your injury is not too serious.
The doctor will need to examine your injury thoroughly. If you do not know how the injury happened, then it can be a little difficult for the doctor. If possible, you should bring someone who witnessed the accident with you.
You may also need to have a neurological test. In this, your doctor will do your physical ability, eye movement and other tests.
Imaging tests are commonly used to treat head injuries. A CT scan will help your doctor test for fractures, bleeding, clots, swelling of the brain, and other injuries. CT scan is fast and accurate. You may also need to have an MRI scan, which will help to get a closer look at the brain. An MRI scan will usually only be done while you are in a steady state.
Treatment for Head Injury
Treatment of head injuries depends on the severity of the injury. Often minor head injuries cause no symptoms other than pain. In these cases, you may be asked to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain. If the head is torn, the doctor will put stitches and cover it with a bandage.
Even if your injury seems minor, you should still get yourself good treatment. Do not go to sleep after a head injury. If sleepiness occurs one should wake up every two hours and check for any new symptoms.
If you notice any new or worsening symptoms, you should go back to the doctor.
Hospitalization is must for serious head injury
If your injury causes pressure in your brain, you may be given a diuretic. Diuretics cause you to excrete more fluid. This can reduce the pressure.
If your injury is severe, you may be given medicine to put you in a coma. Going into a coma may be a good treatment if your blood vessels are damaged.
We have given you all the information related to the treatment of head injuries based on the causes and symptoms .
If you want to get treated for head injuries , then you can opt for ASP cares, which ensure the best possible treatment for injuries with good expertise.