Minor Head Bumps Can Lead to Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury is any type of brain injury that can result from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body. In some cases, such an injury could also be a result of an object penetrating brain tissue. There’s a broad range of severity with these kinds of injuries—mild injuries may only temporarily affect brain cells, while more serious injuries can result in torn tissue, bruising, bleeding and long-term physical damage to the brain, or even death.
These types of injuries are often referred to by doctors and injury attorneys as a “silent epidemic,” because in many cases the complications don’t produce noticeable symptoms until long after the injury occurred. The injury itself might not always be obvious, either—it could have been even a small, seemingly minor bump that caused a traumatic brain injury.
Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries
As mentioned above, the severity of traumatic brain injuries can vary widely. Some of these symptoms could show up almost immediately after the trauma occurs, while others might not manifest themselves for days or weeks after the fact.
For mild traumatic brain injuries, physical symptoms of the injury could include a loss of consciousness, feelings of being dazed or confused, headaches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, speech problems, problems sleeping (or an excessive amount of sleeping) or loss of balance. There are also various sensory symptoms you might notice, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, changes in ability to smell or strange tastes in the mouth. Finally, there are some cognitive symptoms associated with mild brain trauma, including concentration or memory problems, mood swings or feelings of depression or anxiety.
For more moderate to severe brain injuries, many of the symptoms are the same as they are for mild brain trauma, but with greater intensity. Some additional physical symptoms could include convulsions or seizures, chronic nausea, migraines, fluids draining from the ears or nose, loss of coordination, a numbness or weakness in the extremities and dilation of one or both pupils. Additional cognitive symptoms can include clear and significant confusion, slurred speech, agitation, comas and other consciousness disorders.
Finally, children might experience some differing symptoms, and because it’s not always easy for children to explain the symptoms they’re feeling, it’s important to keep a close eye on them yourself. You should especially look out for feelings of sadness or depression, changes in sleeping habits, changes in eating or nursing habits, unusual irritability, persistent crying, loss of interest in favorite activities or an inability to focus and pay attention for extended periods of time.
As a general rule, you should schedule an appointment with a doctor any time you or your child has suffered a blow to the head that in turn results in behavioral or physical changes, or otherwise concerns you for any reason at all.
For more information about the steps you should take if you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact The Law Offices of Max G. Arnold to speak with a qualified team of injury attorneys in Santa Rosa.
Categorised in: Personal Injury Lawyer