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Head injury - Management
How do I assess someone with a head injury?
- Take a detailed history, including:
- Information on how and when the head injury occurred.
- What symptoms are currently present or have been experienced since the injury, for example any:
- Loss of consciousness
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Visual disturbance
- Neck pain
- Alcohol or drug intake
- Examination should focus on:
- The person's level of consciousness (using the Glasgow Coma Scale).
- Neurological deficits.
- Signs of physical trauma to the head and neck.
- Although rare, suspect child maltreatment if a child has a head injury in the absence of major confirmed accidental trauma or know medical cause, in one or more of the following circumstances:
- The explanation is absent or unsuitable.
- The child is under 3 years of age.
- There are also retinal haemorrhages, rib or long bone fractures, or other associated inflicted injuries.
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