Children's Health

Are you unsure whether your child lost consciousness, but there are no signs of a serious head injury now?

Has your baby age 12 months or younger had a head injury?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your child have moderate bleeding after 10 minutes of direct pressure?

Does your child have mild bleeding from the scalp after applying direct pressure 3 times for 10 minutes each time (30 minutes total), but bleeding does not stop?

Are you not sure when your child had his or her last tetanus shot?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your child have clear or bloody fluid draining from the ears or nose after a head injury?Note: This clear or bloody drainage begins after a head injury and is not caused by a cut, direct blow to the nose, allergies, crying, or cold symptoms.

Does your child have bruising or discoloration around the eyes or behind the ears after a head injury?

Does your child have moderate to severe swelling on the face or scalp after a head injury?

Did your child fall from a distance greater than his or her height?

Does your child have facial drooping?

Do you know or think your child has a fever?

Does your child have bruising or discoloration on the scalp after a head injury?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your child have severe pain that continues longer than 20 minutes after a head injury?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Has your child had continuous, violent vomiting for 15 minutes or longer?

Has your child vomited more than 3 times in 6 hours after a head injury?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you think a head injury was caused by someone trying to hurt your child?

Do you think a child had a head injury because no one was taking care of or watching out for the child?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Has your child had changes in his or her behavior after a head injury?

Has your child been unable to talk or had trouble talking after a head injury?

Has your child been unusually sleepy, fussy, or irritable after a head injury?

Has your child had unsteadiness after a head injury that makes it hard for him or her to stand or walk?

Does your child have any symptoms that did not develop until 2 weeks after a head injury?

Has your child had symptoms for longer than 2 weeks after a head injury?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

Call your health professional today.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.