How soon may signs of a serious head injury appear after the injury?

• A. Immediately
• B. Within minutes
• C. May not appear for several hours
• D. After 24 hours

Answer: (C)

Signs of a serious head injury can be delayed because swelling and internal bleeding inside the skull may develop over time after the impact. A child can seem okay right after the event, but symptoms such as confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, a severe or worsening headache, or changes in behavior may emerge only after several hours. That’s why signs may not appear for several hours.

Keep monitoring for any changes in alertness or behavior in the hours after the injury, and seek medical care if the child becomes unusually sleepy, cannot be woken, has repeated vomiting, has a severe or worsening headache, shows confusion or unsteady walking, has a seizure, or you notice any new or concerning signs. If there’s loss of consciousness or other severe symptoms, call emergency services right away.