All children hit their heads during their childhood. Most head injuries are minor and as long as the child is otherwise healthy do not require immediate medical attention. If your child is alert and responding well after the head injury then usually no additional testing will be needed. Often times, your child may cry initially and then continue to play afterwards.
Signs of a more serious head injury which will require you to call your pediatrician immediately are: loss of consciousness, constant worsening of a headache, mental confusion or slurred speech, repeated or sustained dizziness, abnormal behavior, extreme irritability, difficulty waking up, seizures, unusual color and frequent vomiting. Another sign to look for is the size of the pupils of your child. The pupils are the dark, center part of the eyes. They should be the same size and should get smaller when a light is flashed at the eyes. If they are unequal or unresponsive to light, your child should be seen by your pediatrician.
For more information, please call 661- 253-9009.