How hard of head hit to cause concussion???

[tylerdylan]

DS (5) got pushed at school yesterday by a 5th grader into the school wall at recess.  I don't have a lot of details yet on what happened before or after or how hard he hit his head (waiting for the school to call me back).  He didn't sleep good last night which is not like him.  Very restless.  He woke up at 5:00am crying that his head hurt.  He whimpered off and on for the next 2 hours, crying out "ouch" over and over again till I finally convinced him to get up even though he said he didn't feel well enough to get up.  We tried a heating pad to the side of his head but it didn't help.  He asked to go the hospital.  He said his stomach hurt too.  I told him he was probably just hungry so I made him some toast with honey.  He took two bites then threw up.  He layed on the couch for 2 hours, tossing and turning unable to get comfortable watching a movie.  Then without a word he got up and went to his room - I asked him what he was doing and he said he was going to bed because he was tired.  I don't hear him so I think he fell asleep (he NEVER sleeps during the day even when he's sick).

I am waiting to find out too if anyone in his class has been sick with a stomach virus though that doesn't really explain the headache.

DS also has a brain tumour so these symptoms are concerning for that too, though the coincidence in timing following a hit to his head make me lean towards injury.

What do you think??  A mild concussion requires no treatment right so there is no point in bringing him to the hospital right?  Unless he gets progressively worse of course....

[Limabean1975]

Take him to emerg, NOW.   There's all kinds of possibilities, but the fact is you will get in fast (believe me, they will put him ahead of the ear infections and sprained ankles). DO IT. 

[AllyRae]

If he's feeling nauseous, I would absolutely take him in.  Even a seemingly minor head injury can cause internal bleeding, and if he has some structural abnormalities (you mentioned a tumor), there might be an increased chance of injury.  Please, don't wait to take him in...if he's nauseous, his head hurts, and he's not feeling well after a head injury, get it checked out.  It's better to be too cautious in this instance, than to be too laid back.  Especially if it's still hurting and he's still nauseous almost a day later.  We're just over the internet--we can't diagnose him.  But I absolutely.do.not screw with head injuries and children.  When in doubt, get it checked out--we can't really give medical advice over the internet, especially with something as potentially dangerous as a head injury/internal bleeding/concussions.

And it doesn't take a huge hit to get a concussion.  My DS got a concussion falling down 3 steps (smacked his head on concrete, had to be taken to the hospital via squad because he couldn't move his neck and was passing out right afterwards). 

I hope he's ok...  And please go and check on him...don't assume he just fell asleep.  Peace mama...

[34me]

I waited a week to take my ds in for a broken hand but I would take your kiddo in now. My ds (same kid) locked his knees and fell off the risers at school when he was in 4th grade. He came home and fell asleep which is so not like him, an hour later he started throwing up. That was my sign to get help NOW.

[tylerdylan]

I've spoken with the school now and they said that he didn't even tell anyone that he hit his head till he came in from recess, so they don't think he hit it too hard.  Also aside from a small scrape above his eyebrow (not where his headache is) there are no bumps or marks.  I also called my son's oncology nurse and she wants him to be seen by a Pediatrician to be assessed today and then let them decide if we need to go to the ER.  So, I guess we will go see the doctor after all.  Thanks for the advice....

[prothyraia]

This!!!
 

Originally Posted by Limabean1975 

Take him to emerg, NOW.   There's all kinds of possibilities, but the fact is you will get in fast (believe me, they will put him ahead of the ear infections and sprained ankles). DO IT. 

[tylerdylan]

UPDATE: DS woke up from his 2 hour nap yesterday feeling much better. His colour had returned, his energy and appetite were back.  He ate a big lunch and kept it all down.  The only thing that persisted was a mild headache.  He played for the rest of the day and got into his normal mischief which was a good sign to me.  I checked his pupils (they were equal and reactive) and did a quick neurologic assessment (seen this done on him a million times now) and he seemed fine so we didn't take him to the hospital.  He slept great last night and woke up feeling good.

So, unlikely to have been related to his hitting his head.....now of course we are worried the tumour is growing again.....will wait for more symptoms I guess...

[Limabean1975]

  Hope all continues to be well.

[tylerdylan]

UPDATE:  DS had an appointment yesterday with a doctor at our Children's Hospital.  I mentioned the head bump and the headache and vomiting.  She thinks the head bump caused a jarring to his head resulting in a migraine and the vomiting.  He slept the migraine off when he had the nap.  She said that people who have had a head trauma (which brain surgery is as well as a shrinking tumor from chemo) will react more to head bumps.  Most people wouldn't have responded to the head bump, but for DS his brain is more sensitive.  We will have to be more careful with him and at least we know what to expect in the future.  So, the good news is that likely his tumour is still stable (not growing again), but he will have a life time of needing to be careful with his head.