Question
My baby is 5 months and 2 weeks old. By accident, he rolled off a bed that was over 70 centimeters high and hit his head. I’m not sure if I should be worried?
Answer
Some cases of intracranial hemorrhage or brain edema may not show significant symptoms until several hours, even 1 to 2 days after a head injury. Parents should not become complacent after taking their child to the hospital immediately following the injury and not finding any issues. They need to carefully observe the child for 48 hours. Avoid letting the child engage in severe movements. Generally, wake the child twice at night, once at midnight and again at 4 AM. Wake the child up to the point where they can talk and walk clearly, and pay attention to whether their pupils are of equal size. However, children with low cooperation may be difficult to observe. It’s advisable to sleep next to the child to monitor their breathing and sleep patterns. If any abnormalities are noticed, wake the child up to ensure there is no loss of consciousness. Additionally, within the first six hours after a head injury, avoid eating and limit intake to water only. If there are still symptoms of nausea or vomiting after six hours, avoid eating as well. Seek medical attention promptly.