Is it possible to find a more curious and fearless creature on this light than a child? Thirst for knowledge and the absence of a natural self-preservation feeling for an adult pushes him to research adheres that are often ending with injuries.
Brain concussion is one of the most frequent and at the same time dangerous consequences of falls, blows, sports injuries and other emergencies that occur almost daily with children of all ages. About how to recognize the concussion of the brain, effectively provide first aid and what it threatens in the absence of treatment, you will learn from our article.
General
In nature, everything is provided to the human brain, and especially the child, was reliably protected from damage. The heavy effects of the skull are hampered by the skull bones: they are not only very strong, but also mobile, so they have the ability to amortize when contact with a solid surface. An additional depreciation role plays a liquid - a liquid that is located between the brain and the bones of the skull and during the strike prevents their collision.
The defense of the brain of newborns is additionally provided by the spring (the physiological hole in the dark part of the skull) and the softness of the bones.
Thanks to these factors, most of the blows both heads and head will end safely, especially in cases with young children, whose weight is still not enough to create a strong inertia and a powerful push.
To get a concussion, not enough to touch - the push should be not so much strong as amplitude, that is, to happen with a scope (often happens with car accidents, sports). At the same time, the liquor does not cope with the role of the shock absorber and the brain struck on the bone of the skull, as a result of which a temporary violation of its functionality of varying severity occurs.
Symptoms and signs
Symptoms of concussion of the brain in children depend on such factors as the severity of the lesion, the age of the victim, the presence or absence of the integrity of the cranial bones.
The most characteristic instant signs in which you can quickly identify the disease include:
- the pallor of the skin, which can be replaced by a sharp erythema (redness of the face);
- temporary astigmatism (the distance of the movements of pupils);
- single or multiple;
- children 2-3 years old and older can complain about a sharp headache;
- loss of consciousness of different duration;
- changing heart palpitation frequency (pulse slowing, slowing down);
- configuring breathing;
- bleeding from the nose;
- an increase or decrease in the size of pupils, the absence of their reaction to stimuli.
In the absence of timely diagnosis and adequate medical care, the sign of the concussion in the child is acquired less pronounced, but at the same time a protracted character:
- total lethargy (decline in activity, lack of interest even to his beloved classes;
- often appearing new pain in the head;
- noise in ears;
- dizziness and other violations of the vestibular apparatus;
- excessive drowsiness, or, on the contrary, pupidity difficulties.
In an infant child, a shake can be rarely and can manifest itself with insignificant symptoms, such as abundant swelling, increased concern and sleep disorders received by parents for manifestation of digestion disorder. If the blow was unsalted, the symptoms usually do not hold longer than 1-3 days.
Regardless of age, the temperature when the brain shakes does not change, and if its increase is observed, this indicates an independent viral infection.
From one blow (injury), a brain can get two injuries due to the so-called anti-dust
A separate mention requires such a symptom as a violation of the integrity of the bones of the skull. If after the strike there is a fracture, this is an indication of the diagnosis of "Card-brain injury". This diagnosis may be accompanied by the same features as the shock.
Differentiate these states on their own at home is impossible - this requires special medical equipment. The first and main task of the parents lies in the early transportation of the child into the trauma.
Severity
With attentive observation, it is possible to determine not only the fact of concussion, but also the severity of its flow. According to the generally accepted medical classification, three degrees of the disease are noted.
Knowing their distinguishing characteristics will tell parents how to determine the concussion of the brain in the child at home will help better navigate in the situation and react to correctly.
- First degree
It is characterized by minor physiological disorders, such as headache, dizziness, short weakness. Additional symptoms of lightweight brain: nausea, one-time vomiting, in a child up to a year.
The main difference between the first degree of the disease from the more severe - time during which symptomatics is manifested. If for 30-60 minutes the patient's condition improves, he seeks to return to the usual classes, the color of his face is improving, this suggests that the most dangerous period is behind.
However, this does not mean that a slight concussion does not require hospital diagnosis and treatment - a child in any case should be taken to the hospital, where it will make the skull x-ray, will be taken in the absence of microcracks and internal hematomas. This measure will avoid possible negative consequences of injury, such as the headache of unclear etiology, etc.
- Second degree
The first signs of the concussion of the brain of the second degree are also manifested in the same way, but are observed throughout the longer period of time. The disease can be complicated by a short-term loss of consciousness (1-2 minutes), the absence of the ability to concentrate the look, clouding reason.
Older children (10-12 years old) complain about the feeling of fog in the head, extraneous noises, the inability to keep equilibrium. The condition is often accompanied by abundant repeated vomiting. Pupils react to light more slowly than in normal condition.
It is possible to understand that the child has a shaking of the brain of the second degree, if you ask him the simplest questions that appropriate age. Children up to 1 year and a little older who are still poorly spoken, only a doctor can spend differential diagnosis.
- Third degree
For the third degree of the patient, consciousness may lose for a period of up to 5 minutes. He is very pale, badly, it is not capable of changing the position of the body. Sometimes a short-term amnesia is noted - the child is not able to remember how his name is, does not recognize others, he does not have an orientation in time.
Pupils when concussing the brain of the third degree do not react to light, the difference in their magnitude is noted. This indicates a severe defeat of one or both of the hemispheres of the brain. The child's pulse is uneven - it is readier, it becomes slow, depending on this the intensity of intensity and exhale changes. The condition is accompanied by increased sweating, the Spirin appears on the forehead.
If the loss of consciousness lasts longer than 5 minutes, it leads to irreversible consequences and requires the adoption of urgent medical measures to resuscitation.
When are the first symptoms?
Diagnose the brain concussion from the child to parents is often not easy for two reasons:
- Lack of injury information.
- A long period of time between the injury and the appearance of symptoms.
Fearing parental wrath, children often hide from them the fact that they fell or hit during a walk, school change, fights, training. The situation in which the brain damage begins to manifest itself a few hours later, also violates the apparent link between the cause of the disease and its consequences, it makes it difficult to diagnose and treatment.
Therefore, it is important to remember that severe degrees of the disease make themselves to know immediately after the injury is obtained, but the lungs are more cunning and can know about themselves after 2-3 hours. Pay attention to the combination of symptoms. If it is vomiting, accompanied by dizziness and / or headache, be sure to ask the son or daughter about possible blows, drops, clashes and other troubles that could occur.
Regardless of how much the brain is manifested in a child, it is necessary to show a doctor to clarify the diagnosis.
First aid
Promptual help depends on how the concussion of the brain is manifested in the child, but the very first action of an adult is a challenge of ambulance. After that, it is necessary to examine the head and in the presence of damage to the skin to treat the wound with an unpirted antiseptic (chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide), stop the bleeding tampon, impose a bandage. Using an alcohol antiseptic can cause pain shock in a child.
If the soft tissues of the head are damaged, but there are no signs of concussion, too, necessarily call ambulance - symptoms can detect themselves later.
At first degree
If the victim is conscious, and its condition does not cause concerns (vomiting when concussing the brain of the first degree may not be absent, there are complaints about unlocking headache, light dizziness), you can and independently take it to the hospital, but in no case in public transport . However, this is an extreme, unwanted measure, because it is impossible to fix the patient in the case of shaking in the car and provide him with a horizontal position in compliance with safety.
Surgeons, neurosurgeons and neuropathologists are diagnosed with diagnosis and treatment, but if you do not know exactly whom to disrupt the child when concussing the brain in your area, go to the nearest traumatology - there will be medical assistance and, if necessary, transported on purpose.
With a second degree
When concussing the brain of the second degree, that is, when vomiting is present, nausea, headache, but there is no longer fainting, the child needs to ensure a horizontal position. Do not let him fall asleep before the arrival of the doctors - after sleep on the background of the cranial and brain injury, symptomatics can manifest itself stronger, the patient will become more sluggish, consciousness - disturbed.
For a third degree
In the case of a serious injury, accompanied by the loss of consciousness, the patient should be put on the horizontal smooth surface on the right side, put the right hand under the head, the legs slightly bend in the knees. To bend the left hand into the elbow and freely lay along the body. This will help to give the victim the optimal physiological position, temporarily fixes in case of sharp convulsive movements, and will protect it from chilling with a sudden vomiting.
What to do is unacceptable:
- leave a patient unattended regardless of the severity of symptoms;
- with the loss of consciousness to shake it, trying to lead to feelings;
- put on the back;
- put in a position in which the head is below the body;
- ignore symptoms, engage in self-medication.
Also, it is impossible to be arranged near the victim of the bustle, scare it, upset, noise - all the above will only aggravate the state.
Hardware diagnostics
In addition to collecting an anamnesis doctor, finding out the circumstances of obtaining injury and objective estimation by the external manifestations of the disease, the diagnosis necessarily includes the hardware techniques whose choice depends on the severity of the symptoms.
Their Arsenal includes:
- Radiography - helps to determine the fracture of the bones of the skull.
- Neurosonography is an ultrasound study that shows the state of the cranial box and the brain in children from birth to 2-3 years.
- Magnetic resonance tomography (MRI) - shows the condition of the brain, the presence of neoplasms and hemorrhage in it.
- Computed tomography (CT) - allows you to see all the same nuances as MRI, but takes less time, so it is more often used with young children.
- Electricencephalographic study (EEG) - applied after treatment, if the injury was severe. With this examination, you can see which areas of the brain show pathological activity, and to correct the treatment of consequences.
Some types of surveys (MRI, CT) require prolonged immobilization, therefore it is difficult to use with small, restless, as well as hyperactive children. Therefore, they are prescribed only in cases of extreme necessity and are carried out under general anesthesia.
Treatment
The therapy of the second and third degree of concussion is carried out in the hospital. This allows you to quickly withdraw a patient from a difficult state and minimizes the negative effects of the disease. The child is ensured by peace and bedding, the optimal method of administering medicines is oral or intravenous (through a dropper).
The treatment of brain concussion in children necessarily includes diuretic drugs that prevent the occurrence of swelling, nootropics that accelerate the process of restoring the functionality of the brain, as well as anticonvulsant and normalizing intracranial pressure drugs. Symptomatic treatment consists in taking painkillers and sedative drugs, sometimes antihistamines may be needed.
At the first degree of concussion, an outpatient treatment is allowed. Homemade care implies the provision of rest, the child's fence from sharp movements and negative emotions. Of great importance in the treatment of the disease and its consequences, the child's child has a strict restriction in watching TV and computer games - such entertainment actor actively on the nervous system and slow down the process of recovery.
A patient who is on an outpatient treatment must be ensured by timely reception of all prescribed drugs. Despite the lack of severe symptoms, it is also prescribed light nootropics, the use of which improves the brain circulation, contributes to improving memory and attentiveness, and also prevents the development of complications.
In the recovery period of the child should be limited in motor activity, free from school at school lessons, take a break in sports activities. While walking with friends, children are very active, so such a pastime is also temporary due to the ban. Return to a full-fledged life is possible after the diagnosis and permission of the doctor.
Complications
Timely diagnosis and treatment are two components of full cure on the effects of injury. In the case of their absence, even a slight concussion of the brain is dangerous by various consequences, many of which can overshadow the entire subsequent life.
Among them:
- bad memory;
- reducing the concentration of attention;
- meteo-dependence;
- migraine;
- dizziness;
- fear of height and other phobias;
- pressure jumps;
- anxiety;
- neurosis (,);
- a tendency to cramps;
The average and heavy brain concussion transferred at any age also increases the likelihood of senile dementia, accelerates their offensive, agar of the current. In girls, the injury may adversely affect the subsequent pregnancies, which are often complicated by the threat of interrupt due to hypertensive crises.
Can I prevent?
"I would know where you fall - straw would notice." This proverb fully displays the degree of unpredictability of obtaining any injury. However, it is possible to reduce the risks if you follow the elementary safety technique.
With children of chest age, it is that under any circumstances to leave them on changing tables, sofas and any other elevations unattended. This rule is immutable even in the case of newborns, which still do not know how to turn independently.
Lower the bottom and / or a player in advance, without waiting until the child learn to sit down or get up. It should be done in advance, at the first attempts of the kid to go to the next level of physical development. In the presence of stairs in the private house, put special fences.
When the baby learns to crawl and walk, the look should become even more thorough, because the probability of injury is repeatedly rising. Observe safety measures at the playground and gradually accustom to this child. As you grow, clarify him the rules of behavior in public places - kindergarten, school, instill prude, caution and a tendency to self-preservation.
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