Children's Health

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• When and how did the injury occur?
• Do you remember all the details before, during, and after the injury? If you do not remember, are there witnesses available who can tell you about the injury?
• How did you act after the head injury?
• Did you lose consciousness? If yes, for how long?
• What are your main symptoms? How long have you had symptoms?
• Have you ever had a concussion (traumatic brain injury) in the past?
  • How long ago?
  • How severe was it?
  • How was it treated?
  • Do you continue to have problems because of this injury?
• Was this injury intentionally caused by another person?
• What object caused the injury? Was there or is there an object in a cut on the head?
• What home treatment measures have you used to treat the head injury? Did they help?
• What prescription or nonprescription medicines do you use?
• If a cut or scrape occurred, is your tetanus immunization up-to-date?
• Were alcohol or drugs involved in the injury?
• Do you have any health risks?