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Head injury - Management
What self-care advice should I give?

  • Advise adults to:
    • Stay within easy reach of help and near to a telephone for the first 48 hours.
    • Have plenty of rest and avoid stressful situations.
    • Avoid:
      • Taking any alcohol or drugs, sedatives, or tranquillizers (unless they are given by a doctor).
      • Contact sports (including rugby and football) for at least 3 weeks; the person should talk to their doctor first.
      • Returning to normal activity until they are completely recovered.
      • Driving or operating machinery, unless they are completely recovered.
    • Attend an emergency department if:
      • They have a change in consciousness, or experience confusion.
      • Fluid leaks from their ear or nose.
      • They are drowsy when they would normally be awake.
      • They have problems with understanding or speaking, loss of balance or problems walking, or weakness in one or both arms or legs.
      • They develop new problems with their eyesight.
      • They have a worsening headache.
      • There is vomiting or seizures.
  • Advise parents or carers that a child should:
    • Take simple painkillers if required for mild headache, such as paracetamol.
    • Eat only light meals for 1 or 2 days.
    • Avoid too much excitement, and not have too many visitors when they return home.
    • Avoid contact sports (and the parent should also discourage too much 'rough and tumble' play for the next few days).
    • Attend an emergency department urgently if they:
      • Become unusually or increasingly sleepy.
      • Complain of headaches which become more severe or, in the case of a young baby, if they cry persistently.
      • Appear unsteady when walking.
      • Vomit repeatedly.
      • Has a fit.
      • Develop a squint or blurred vision or starts seeing double.
      • Become unconscious.

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