Head injuries happen all the time, right? During a rugby game, while working in the garage, accidentally walking into a door… But what if it’s quite bad? What if the accident is much more serious? How do we know when to take a knocking on the noggin seriously? With World Head Injury Awareness Day this month, we break down how to know when it’s time to call a doctor or just take some rest.
The 20th of March is World Head Injury Awareness Day. The NICD (National Institute for Communicable Diseases) says that globally, each year, more than 5% of people get serious brain injury as a result of an accident. In South Africa (according to data from Statistics SA), close to 90 000 cases of head trauma or traumatic brain injury (TBI) are reported each year.
According to the “National Health Insurance” paper published in the US National Library of Medicine, an estimated 69-million people sustain a TBI each year. And 56% of these in Africa are due to road traffic collisions.
There are some basic recommendations to prevent head injuries such as: wearing seatbelts, using appropriate child safety seats, never driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, wearing helmets, holding rails on stairways and using adequate lighting. But, let’s say you or a loved one has hit their head – what are the signs and symptoms to look out for, if it’s serious?
Signs & Symptoms of a serious head injury
If the person experiences seizures or a loss of consciousness – even briefly – it is crucial to get immediate medical attention. Here are some other signs and symptoms to look out for that require medical attention:
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Nausea or vomiting – a sign of increased pressure inside the skull
- Confusion or disorientation
- Slurred speech – slurring words or difficulty forming sentences
- Unequal pupil size – this could be a sign of increased pressure on the brain
- Persistent drowsiness or difficulty waking up
- Fluid leaking from nose or ears could indicate skull fracture
- Weakness or numbness in arms or legs could indicate nerve damage or a spinal cord injury
If you’re still unsure about the severity, rather err on the side of caution and seek medical advice. Speedy medical attention and intervention could prevent further, more serious complications or at least ensure the best possible outcome.