What are three symptoms of a serious brain injury?
Physical symptoms
- Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours.
- Persistent headache or headache that worsens.
- Repeated vomiting or nausea.
- Convulsions or seizures.
- Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes.
- Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears.
- Inability to awaken from sleep.
What is the mildest brain injury?
Medical providers may describe a concussion as a “mild” traumatic brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, all brain injuries – including concussions – should be taken seriously. Remember: A concussion/mTBI is an injury to the brain, not just ‘seeing stars’.
What causes bulging soft spot?
A tense or bulging fontanelle occurs when fluid builds up in the brain or the brain swells, causing increased pressure inside the skull. When the infant is crying, lying down, or vomiting, the fontanelles may look like they are bulging.
What is the difference between brain damage and brain injury?
Brain damage occurs when a person’s brain is injured due to traumatic injury, such as a fall or car accident, or nontraumatic injury, such as a stroke. Doctors more commonly refer to brain damage as brain injury because this term better describes what’s happening in the brain.
What are the two most common brain injuries?
Falls and car accidents are two of the top causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). When you take a severe blow to the head, your brain hits against the skull. The impact can cause brain damage. Concussions are the most common type of TBI.
Can an MRI detect brain damage?
The meninges job is to hold the brain in place, and cushion the brain from harm. These newer, specialized types of MRI scans can now look and assess damage to the brains structure, or measure brain function to detect changes in the brains structure and function due to TBI and concussions.
What are at least five symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury?
Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion
| Physical | Thinking and Remembering | Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| Dizziness or balance problems | Feeling slowed down | Sleeping more than usual |
| Feeling tired, no energy | Foggy or groggy | Trouble falling asleep |
| Headaches | Problems with short- or long-term memory | |
| Nausea or vomiting (early on) | Trouble thinking clearly |
Can you recover from mild brain damage?
The majority of patients with mild TBI recover completely in a week to three months. If you are older than 40, it may take a bit longer to return to normal. The symptoms often disappear without any special treatment.
When should I be worried about a soft spot?
If you notice a bulging fontanelle along with a fever or excessive drowsiness, seek medical attention right away. A fontanelle that doesn’t seem to be closing. Talk with your doctor if your baby’s soft spots haven’t started getting smaller by her first birthday.
Can adults still have a soft spots on their skull?
Not everyone has the same skull shape, and normal variations exist among individuals. The skull is not perfectly round or smooth, so it is normal to feel slight bumps and ridges. However, a dent in the head, especially if it is new, requires a trip to the doctor to determine the cause.
Can a swollen soft spot be a sign of head trauma?
After a fall, a swollen soft spot (particularly if it’s accompanied by vomiting) is sometimes a sign of head trauma. What you should do: Seek medical treatment right away. Fluid buildup ( hydrocephalus) can cause rapid head growth and can make the soft spot look “full,” Dr. Recinos says.
Can a bulging soft spot cause brain damage?
A bulging soft spot can be a sign of several very serious conditions that can even be life-threatening. For instance, encephalitis, a common cause of bulging fontanels, can lead to permanent brain damage or even death in severe cases.
What does it mean when a baby has a soft spot in the brain?
A bulging anterior soft spot may mean that the baby has increased intracranial pressure, which, in turn, may indicate conditions such as hydrocephalus (a buildup of fluid in the brain), hypoxemia (low oxygen levels), meningitis (inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord), trauma, or hemorrhage (bleeding). 1
Where is the soft spot on the head?
Usually, only the anterior fontanel, which is on the top of the head toward the front, can be seen and felt. This is the one called the soft spot. In some babies, the posterior fontanel, which is found toward the back of the head, can also be felt, though it’s much smaller.