Question
A six-month-old baby accidentally falls from the bed and hits the back of their head. After crying for a while, they calm down and show no obvious abnormalities. In this situation, is it necessary to take the baby to the hospital for immediate examination? Could the fall cause brain damage and affect the baby’s intelligence?
Answer
When a baby’s head is struck, first check for any local skin injuries. If any injuries are found, they should be disinfected and debrided. If there are no wounds, closely monitor the baby for symptoms such as crying, changes in mental state, or vomiting. If any of these symptoms appear, the baby should be taken to the hospital immediately for a CT scan to rule out brain injury caused by intracranial hemorrhage. If no such symptoms appear within three days, it can be assumed that the baby has not suffered brain damage and will not be affected by their intelligence.