If a severe head injury isn't correctly treated, it can cause serious brain damage.
The signs of a severe head injury can include:
unconsciousness, either briefly or for a longer period of time
difficulty staying awake or still being sleepy several hours after the injury
clear fluid leaking from the nose or ears (this could be cerebrospinal fluid, which normally surrounds the brain)
bleeding from one or both ears
bruising behind one or both ears
any sign of skull damage or a penetrating head injury
difficulty speaking, such as slurred speech
difficulty understanding what people say
reading or writing problems
balance problems or difficulty walking
loss of power or sensation in part of the body, such as weakness or loss of feeling in an arm or leg
general weakness
vision problems, such as blurred or double vision
having a seizure or fit (when your body suddenly moves uncontrollably)
memory loss (amnesia), such as not being able to remember what happened before or after the injury
a persistent headache
vomiting since the injury
irritability or unusual behaviour
If any of these symptoms are present, particularly loss of consciousness (even for just a short time), go immediately to your local accident and emergency (A&E) department, or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
You should also go to hospital if someone has injured their head and:
the injury was caused by a forceful blow to the head at speed, such as being hit by a car or falling one metre or more
the person has had previous brain surgery
the person has had previous problems with uncontrollable bleeding or a blood clotting disorder, or is taking medication that may cause bleeding problems, such as warfarin
the person is intoxicated by drugs or alcohol
it's possible that the injury wasn't accidental – for example, you deliberately hurt yourself or someone else hurt you on purpose
Also call 999 to ask for an ambulance if the person with the head injury isn't breathing.
The signs of a severe head injury can include:
unconsciousness, either briefly or for a longer period of time
difficulty staying awake or still being sleepy several hours after the injury
clear fluid leaking from the nose or ears (this could be cerebrospinal fluid, which normally surrounds the brain)
bleeding from one or both ears
bruising behind one or both ears
any sign of skull damage or a penetrating head injury
difficulty speaking, such as slurred speech
difficulty understanding what people say
reading or writing problems
balance problems or difficulty walking
loss of power or sensation in part of the body, such as weakness or loss of feeling in an arm or leg
general weakness
vision problems, such as blurred or double vision
having a seizure or fit (when your body suddenly moves uncontrollably)
memory loss (amnesia), such as not being able to remember what happened before or after the injury
a persistent headache
vomiting since the injury
irritability or unusual behaviour
If any of these symptoms are present, particularly loss of consciousness (even for just a short time), go immediately to your local accident and emergency (A&E) department, or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
You should also go to hospital if someone has injured their head and:
the injury was caused by a forceful blow to the head at speed, such as being hit by a car or falling one metre or more
the person has had previous brain surgery
the person has had previous problems with uncontrollable bleeding or a blood clotting disorder, or is taking medication that may cause bleeding problems, such as warfarin
the person is intoxicated by drugs or alcohol
it's possible that the injury wasn't accidental – for example, you deliberately hurt yourself or someone else hurt you on purpose
Also call 999 to ask for an ambulance if the person with the head injury isn't breathing.
tags: Severe head injury - Symptoms, Symptoms, Severe head injury, head injury, injury, head, If a severe head injury isn't correctly treated, it can cause serious brain damage.
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