Can a child have a fever after a head injury?

How scary it can be when a baby falls and hits his head on hard objects. Many mothers in such situations panic and, being in this state, cannot help the baby in a timely manner. Very often, such situations occur in many families, and it is quite problematic to foresee them. How to be?

Causes of fever after injury

Intoxication due to injuries

If the bruise of an arm, leg, head or any other part of the body was not severe, the pain went away after a few minutes and all the consequences were limited to a small bruise, the body will not necessarily react to it with an increase in temperature. Or rather, such a reaction will probably not follow. But if the blow was strong, there is an extensive hematoma of an unpleasant and even frightening color, you can confidently expect that the thermometer will show a temperature of 37 or even 38 degrees. This happens for several reasons:

• Stress. Especially with a head injury.
• Shock. Unexpected injury, plus severe pain.
• Intoxication. Even if, for example, when you bruise your knee, there is no open wound, blood rushes to the site of injury and then begins to dissolve, which causes the body temperature to rise.
• The most severe bruises can be accompanied by damage to the skin, as a result of which an infection gets into the wound and the body reacts to this nuisance with an increase in temperature. Simply put, it begins to struggle.

The last item on this list is simply meant to reassure people who have been injured and are watching their body temperature rise. This is a completely normal phenomenon and you should not get overly upset and look for completely unnecessary exercises for your brain to solve this absolutely far-fetched problem. The temperature after injury in the form of a bruise usually lasts no more than a week - a period quite sufficient for the complete recovery of bruised limbs, fingers and toes, elbow or knee joints and other awkwardly protruding and clinging parts of the body.

Temperature after injury: what causes it

Most patients who receive it for the first time look with alarm at the thermometer scale, which shows an increase in temperature. Let's look at the reasons why the temperature rises after an injury:

• as a result of the impact of severe stress on the body (in this case, stress means the presence of injury);
• after receiving serious injuries (fracture, bruise), the victim is in a state of shock, which, as a rule, provokes an increase in body temperature;
• due to intoxication, when the decay products of damaged tissue at the site of the hematoma are absorbed into the blood;
• since germs and bacteria enter the wound, in addition to other symptoms, the spread of infection is added, and after the injury the body is protected from harmful bacteria (the victim’s temperature rises to 38 degrees);
• When the patient’s body temperature rises as a result of injury, the effectiveness of interferon on the body increases. This is very important because it stops the spread of infection.

The body temperature of a person suffering from an injury rises on the second or third day to 37-38 degrees and can remain at this level for a week. This is a completely normal reaction of the body to damage, so the patient has no reason to worry unnecessarily.

Danger signal

Swelling of the injured area

The last paragraph of the previous section was intended to reassure patients. However, these arguments are not relevant in all cases. It happens that a bruise can not only cause the body temperature to rise, but also cause more serious changes in the body that are dangerous.

In the case when, as a result of a bruise or other injury, extensive bruising, swelling, swelling of the injured area occurs and the pain not only does not go away, but also intensifies at the slightest touch, and the patient begins to develop a fever - this means that it is necessary to sound the alarm and urgently consult a doctor. Most likely, the process of spreading post-traumatic infection has begun in the body, and under no circumstances should you hesitate. Delayed treatment can lead to very dangerous complications.

A traumatologist will do all the necessary examinations (X-rays, MRI) and prescribe the necessary and correct treatment using antibiotics, which can not only cope with the spread of infection, but also help cure the consequences of the injury itself.

Is it necessary to lower the temperature?

Blood thinner

People cope with rising temperatures differently. Some lie flat at 37.2, others even run around at 39 like young goats. It's all individual.

As already mentioned, on the second day after the injury the temperature may rise, and this is normal. The body reacts to stress, shock and other aspects and begins to fight on its own or with the help of medications prescribed by the doctor. If you feel normal, then you should not take antipyretics. By doing this, you will significantly reduce your body’s ability to resist possible infection. If you feel like a broken cup that someone is trying to glue together and is doing it not only rudely, but also incorrectly, you can take ibuprofen, nurofen or paracetamol. Before doing this, it would be a good idea to consult with your doctor, because some drugs in this group have a blood-thinning effect, and with severe edema, tumors and extensive hematomas, this can be harmful.

No man can count how many times he has been bruised in his life. Some such injuries are absolutely not remembered, because after a couple of minutes the pain goes away and not even a tiny bruise remains. However, sometimes it happens that healing takes several days or even weeks. Such cases are difficult to erase from memory. But the next time you trip, fall, or simply get hit, you will know well what and how to do in order to minimize the consequences of this unpleasant and painful incident.

Fever during a child’s concussion or brain contusion is an argument in favor of emergency hospitalization. High readings on the thermometer indicate that the baby’s thermoregulatory processes are disrupted or an inflammatory process has begun. This situation can be dangerous.

Causes of head injuries in children

A healthy child is active, purposeful and curious. Children constantly try new things and persistently study the world around them. This is why they often find themselves in dangerous situations. Unattended children are at risk. Some of the most common causes of head injuries in children include:

• falling from a bicycle, skateboard, scooter;
• falling from a swing;
• children's fight;
• sport;
• falling from a height (tree, roof of a house);
• falling under the wheels of a car;
• in older children, a fall may be caused by drinking alcohol;
• hitting your head during a car accident.

Also, schoolchildren are injured as a result of experiments with loss of consciousness. Waves of children fainting, caused by deliberate rapid breathing and subsequent falling without memory, periodically pass through schools. Usually at this moment the experimenters are held by their peers, but it happens that they are not held. Try to find out if your son or daughter practices this. Explain why this is harmful.

A baby who has just begun to walk is also not immune from a concussion. Even an unsuccessful fall on your butt can cause damage to a fragile head. Infants also suffer traumatic brain injuries from falls from beds, changing tables, and strollers. In some cases, mothers are to blame, because... during swaddling, especially when using a washing machine as a table, they don’t think that they can’t be distracted for even a second: children twitch and fall at the same time.

Dr. Komarovsky : “A fundamental feature of children in the first year of life is the fact that the amount of fluid in the cranial cavity is much higher than that in older children and adults. The baby's brain is not rigidly closed in the cranium, since there are fontanelles, as well as pliable and movable sutures between the bones of the skull. This creates cushioning and reduces the risk from impacts to the head and head to some extent.”

On the one hand, the brain of a small child is well protected. It is placed in cerebral fluid, which absorbs shock. But the shock-absorbing capabilities are not enough if the blow is too strong or the fall was from a great height. In addition, in children, the back of the head protrudes more than in adults, the head is proportionally larger in relation to the body, the neck muscles are weak, and the skull bones are thinner. Therefore, children are more susceptible to head injuries and serious consequences as a result. So, for example, the force of an impact, at which an adult will only have an intracranial hematoma, can cause cerebral edema in a child.

The most common consequences of head injuries in children are:

• rupture of cerebral vessels;
• formation of hematomas;
• disruption of neural connections;
• development of infection;
• cerebral edema.

A traumatic brain injury is not a reason to panic, but an examination by an experienced traumatologist, neurosurgeon and pediatrician is mandatory, even if there are no visible consequences.

Home care

The doctor may recommend rest for your child after a fall.

Your child may need some sleep after a fall, especially if it happens during or after a nap. It may be helpful to let your child rest. However, your doctor may recommend waking your baby at regular intervals to check on him.

Waking up your baby may make it easier to spot any signs of a more severe head injury. The child must:

• breathe normally
• acknowledge your parents or guardians
• easy to wake up

If not, contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention.

Falling out of bed can cause headaches, neck or body pain in a child. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen may help calm your child. It is best to check the type of medication and dosage with your doctor .

Rest is the best treatment after a head injury. Parents should maintain quiet activities for several days and ensure that the child avoids active play.

Signs of a concussion in a child

A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs with impaired neurological function without tissue damage. A concussion can be combined with other types of TBI, most often with brain contusion.

Damage is divided into primary (concussion and/or bruise) and secondary (consequences that develop due to primary injury, for example, damage to brain tissue due to hypoxia, i.e. lack of oxygen). The task of doctors during treatment is to prevent the development of secondary injuries. It is they, and not the concussion itself, that is life-threatening.

You need to be careful with kids, because... they may not always be able to tell you about the fall. The situation is complicated by the fact that the symptoms of a concussion in a child have slightly different symptoms than in adults. Children rarely experience deep and prolonged fainting. Parents should be alarmed by the following indirect signs of a concussion or bruise:

• screaming and crying;
• defocus of the pupils, involuntary movements of the eyeballs;
• sudden vomiting and convulsions;
• pale skin and cold sweat;
• sleep disturbance;
• bleeding from the nose and ears;
• increase in body temperature for no apparent reason.

In infants under one year old, the following signs are added to the listed signs:

• the baby literally starts crying and cannot calm down (this is caused by pain in the head);
• there is pulsation in the area of ​​the fontanel;
• vomiting (often confused with regurgitation);
• The baby suddenly begins to fall asleep and has a restless sleep.

Such signs may not be observed, but the child’s lethargy and lethargy will make you wary. This sign alone is enough to suspect a concussion or brain injury.

School-aged children are also not always willing or able to talk about the injury because short-term memory loss occurs after a fall. You can suspect a traumatic brain injury by incoherent and confused speech, unfocused gaze, complaints of nausea and headache.

Only a doctor can diagnose concussion (closed brain injury). Temperature is only an indirect sign, especially since it may not exist. Only a combination of symptoms will indicate injury. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion, you should not delay your visit to the clinic.

It is more difficult to differentiate between a concussion and a mild bruise in children: their symptoms are not as severe as in adults. Children are looked at dynamically, because otherwise it is almost impossible to make a correct diagnosis. The older the child, the brighter the symptoms, and therefore the differential diagnosis is easier.

Common Symptoms and Signs of a Childhood Concussion

In infants, a concussion has minor symptoms:

• vomiting or excessive regurgitation after eating;
• pallor;
• restlessness and moodiness;
• sleep disorders;
• swelling of the fontanel.

If the injury is not too serious, the symptoms will disappear after a few days.

In preschoolers, trauma can be expressed by the following symptoms:

• 
  weakness, sleep disturbances;

• lack of appetite;
• nausea, vomiting;
• pallor;
• bradycardia;
• excessive sweating.

The signs of a concussion in adolescents are similar to those experienced by adults:

• Strong headache;
• short-term loss of consciousness (about 10 minutes);
• continuous nausea and repeated vomiting;
• lack of coordination.

Does a child have a fever during a concussion?

With an uncomplicated concussion, cerebrospinal fluid, blood pressure and body temperature usually remain unchanged. As we said, this is a mild form of traumatic brain injury.

An increase in temperature after a head blow may be a sign of a brain contusion (a local blow that causes tissue damage). Fever is explained by a temporary malfunction of the brain's thermoregulation center, an inflammatory process and/or hematoma. Temperature during a “concussion” in children can also be a sign of cerebral edema.

Doctors conventionally distinguish three degrees of severity of closed head injury. Temperature in this case will be an indirect indicator.

1. With a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion), the body temperature, as a rule, does not rise.
2. An injury of moderate severity (it is advisable to talk not about a concussion, but about a bruise or a combination) causes a low-grade fever of 37 to 38 degrees for 3-5 days.
3. Severe brain injury causes swelling, inflammation and other complications, driving the mercury into a dangerous range of 40-42 degrees. However, sometimes the condition is characterized by a low-grade fever of 37 to 38 degrees.

Sometimes the severity of the injury cannot be determined on the first day. To make a final diagnosis, doctors need to look at the nature of the disease in its development.

A low temperature during a concussion in the region of 36-36.5 degrees in children may indicate a disruption of the autonomic nervous system as a result of TBI. The rate of reduction is within 0.5-1 degrees. After a few days the temperature returns to normal.

If a child hits his head and his body temperature rises, there is no need to exclude factors such as a viral infection, teething and poisoning. They can cause unnecessary degrees, blurring the symptoms and interfering with the diagnosis.

The state of alcoholic intoxication before receiving an injury also erases the picture and causes the disease to worsen. If usually with a concussion the symptoms fade away after a week, then alcohol extends this period to 2-3 weeks. Do you think your child could not drink alcohol? In vain. This can happen even at an early age.

Treatment of concussion with fever in children

Regardless of the presence of fever, treatment for head trauma of any severity involves bed rest. To alleviate the child’s condition, the following conditions must be created:

• place it in a dark, cool room;
• regularly ventilate the room;
• remove irritating factors - TV, computer, etc.;
• do not play music or give books;
• ensure there is no stress.

If after a concussion the child’s temperature rises slightly, there is no need to bring it down. Higher temperatures are reduced gradually and only as prescribed by a doctor.

Before treatment, a number of examinations are carried out in a hospital setting: blood tests, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-rays, etc. The brain of infants is examined using neurosonography. The purpose of the study is to exclude the presence of hematomas at the site of the injury.

Lumbar puncture is a last resort and painful measure. Its task is to analyze cerebrospinal fluid. If blood is found in the fluid, even in small quantities, this indicates more severe brain damage caused by a contusion or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The puncture should be done only if indicated, because this is a traumatic and dangerous procedure.

The injured person is prescribed a number of drugs to stabilize the condition:

• tablets to relieve the gag reflex and nausea;
• diuretics to eliminate edema (prescribing such drugs without measuring spinal pressure is considered a mistake);
• sedatives to reduce anxiety and restlessness;
• nootropic drugs to improve blood circulation in the brain.

If pain is present, painkillers are prescribed. After 3-5 days, the child should begin taking medications to support heart function and B vitamins.

After an injury, it is advisable to monitor the patient in a hospital setting. The fact is that sometimes the first symptoms indicate a mild concussion, but later damage to brain tissue may appear. Therefore, it is advisable that recovery proceed under the supervision of doctors. They monitor the patient’s condition and promptly make decisions to change therapeutic tactics.

First aid

The first thing to do is call an ambulance. Before the doctors arrive, you must:

1. 
   Provide the victim with peace (you can cover him with a blanket).

2. If the child has lost consciousness, it is necessary to lay him on his right side, bend his left arm and leg.
3. If damage is detected on the skin, they are treated with hydrogen peroxide. You can also apply cold to the injured area of ​​the head.
4. If bleeding occurs, cotton-gauze swabs will help to cope with it.

Important! It is strictly not recommended to give the victim any medications before the doctors arrive.

In any case, if the temperature increase is insignificant, then there is no need to bring it down. And temperatures above 38°C should be reduced gradually, using the doctor’s recommendations.

A concussion is a serious and dangerous injury. Self-medication can lead to complications. After providing first aid, further actions should be performed only as prescribed by doctors.

Usually the victim is prescribed vitamin complexes. A slightly elevated temperature (about 37°C) can persist for up to two weeks. There is no need to knock it down.

Important! During home treatment, if the temperature exceeds 38°C, the general condition worsens or any individual symptoms intensify, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Most often, the victim’s condition completely normalizes after 3 weeks. If all medical instructions are followed, the concussion goes away without complications. The child can return to his previous lifestyle again.

Consequences of temperature disturbances in children after head injury

Brain injury can last for a long time. The victim will become irritable, get tired quickly and often be capricious. Disturbances in sleep and short-term memory are often observed. Schoolchildren report decreased academic performance and headaches. Over time, these symptoms disappear with proper care and attention to the child. With a concussion we are talking about 1-2 months, and after a brain injury, unpleasant symptoms can be felt for another 2 years.

A high temperature after a concussion in a child can lead to a number of serious problems. One of the most dangerous diseases is epilepsy. Over time, psychosis may develop. Other consequences are:

• problems with the vestibular system;
• vegetative-vascular disorders;
• motion sickness in transport;
• irritability, anxiety, tearfulness;
• difficulty sleeping.

Children's brains are delicate and unpredictable. To eliminate the undesirable consequences of a concussion and brain injury, it is better to consult a doctor immediately. Strict adherence to bed rest and all accompanying recommendations contributes to a speedy full recovery. Serious consequences usually develop either as a result of severe traumatic brain injury or as a result of non-compliance with doctor's instructions.

Also read in a separate article on the website temperaturka.com what temperature indicates in case of head injury in adults.

The ability to walk is not among the innate skills. As a child approaches one year of age, he has to master this difficult and dangerous art, as a result of which he often falls and hits himself. The most dangerous situation is when a child injures his head. How can parents understand how serious the next blow was and what the consequences will be? How to help your child in these cases?

Dangerous temperature after injury

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF7Z_dG7NfU

There are situations where a fever that rises after an injury can be a serious cause for concern. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the body temperature of an injured person can increase not only as a result of the body’s reaction to stress or shock. In this case, it is important to assess the general condition of the patient, as well as carefully examine the part of the body where, in fact, the injury occurred.

If all signs of inflammation are found at the site of injury (severe pain, swelling, redness, heat, tenderness on palpation), the victim must be immediately shown to a doctor. If such symptoms are present, there is a possibility of the spread of post-traumatic infection. In this case, an increase in temperature level may indicate serious complications that are dangerous for the body after an injury.

To avoid and prevent possible complications, after an injury, the victim must be taken to the hospital to provide qualified medical care.

It is almost impossible to foresee such a danger when children fall and hit their heads. If a child does not fall and hit himself, he will not be able to learn to walk. After a child hits his head, he needs timely first aid. If you do nothing, the consequences may be the least expected, because the head contains one of the most important human organs - the brain. Let’s find out in more detail how to help a child hit his head, and what this can lead to.

Causes of injuries in children

Nature is very prudent. So that a woman can carry and give birth to a child, it is born in small sizes. In the future it should grow. But, not all parts of the body can do this with equal ease. Such tasks for the limbs and for the head present varying degrees of difficulty.

To successfully solve this problem, wise nature found a way out: a person is born with a disproportion - his head has dimensions closer to adult indicators than the rest of the body. While he can only lie down, his parents are absorbed in other concerns. When it's time to walk, they realize that they have one more baby - the baby keeps falling.

This happens because the center of gravity of his body is shifted to the heavier part, i.e. to the head. Then the baby will grow up, stop hitting everything and become as dexterous as his parents. In the meantime, their task is to ensure the maximum possible safety for the baby, and in the event of an unsuccessful fall, to take urgent measures, if necessary, to eliminate the consequences.

Head impacts can be caused by more than just falls. There comes a time when children begin to play with their peers. Although in the first years of life this happens under the supervision of adults, they cannot always catch the moment when a playmate picked up a stick or stone and hit their child on the head.

The child can injure himself. For example, when climbing up a table, a baby often hits a hard surface quite sensitively. Classic examples include falling off a sofa and hitting a corner of the furniture. There are a lot of such dangerous situations and even the most caring parents will not be able to foresee everything.

Older children are just as vulnerable to falling as any adult. The risk of falling increases in winter when a child, for example, slips on an ice-covered surface, trips on steps, hits a gymnastics apparatus during physical education, etc. Impacts in this case can provoke damage of varying severity.

Types of strokes and symptoms

The severity of the impact depends on the age of the child. In infants, the skull bones are still soft and are in the process of formation. A blow can disrupt this process, even slowing down mental processes. But sometimes the soft tissues of the skull play the role of shock absorbers. When struck, the elastic bones can move and then return to their original position.

Head impacts in children can be divided into two types:

1. Forehead strikes. If a child hits his forehead, a bump appears in this place. Although she looks scary, you shouldn't be too scared. Hematoma and tissue swelling appear due to the fact that there are many small blood vessels on the forehead. They burst, and the surrounding tissue begins to fill with blood. The injury will most likely not cause serious consequences, since the bone in this part is quite strong. If such a lump has formed in a baby, then examination by a specialist is advisable.
2. Hitting the back of the head. Such a bruise can have more serious consequences. Visual impairment is possible, since the nerve endings responsible for the functioning of the eyes are located here. If a child hits the back of his head, complications may occur in the form of traumatic brain injury and concussion.

If a blow occurs, you need to pay attention to the following characteristic symptoms, which are an indication for prompt consultation with a specialist:

• If a child falls and hits his forehead: not a lump, but a depression forms on the forehead;
• pale face;
• lethargy;
• blue lips;
• hard breath;
• slowness of movements;
• difficulty turning the head;

Since rest is necessary, it is better not to take the child to the clinic, but to call a specialist. The emergency doctor should tell you in detail about the symptoms: vomiting, loss of consciousness, sudden sleep, whether the temperature has risen. You should not refuse if hospitalization or at least a serious examination is offered. It is difficult to make a diagnosis based on appearance alone. An ultrasound, electroencephalogram, computed tomography or MRI will give a complete picture of the extent of damage in the child.

The child hit his head and the temperature rose

In some cases, after hitting the head, the baby often develops a fever and becomes passive in his movements. The baby must be placed in the pastel and the temperature taken. If it is quite high, you should immediately call an ambulance.

While waiting for the ambulance, you should not leave your baby alone. The mother should not panic excessively and frighten the child with her condition. It is necessary to pretend that everything is fine, and an increase in temperature is a common occurrence. You should talk to the baby as much as possible and not let him fall asleep, otherwise it will be very difficult to identify other consequences of the blow. You should talk exclusively about positive topics so that your baby’s mood will lift and he will begin to smile.

Remember! A child’s body is quite fragile, so unnecessary worries can leave an imprint on his psyche.

When the ambulance arrives, you do not need to leave the baby, but explain to him what is happening as a matter of course. You can joke a little. To cheer up the baby.

A rise in temperature from hitting your head can be a consequence of a concussion, so you should not refuse hospitalization if doctors insist on it.