Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from a sudden violent blow or jolt to the head. It disrupts normal brain function. A mild injury may temporarily affect the brain. However, severe to moderate traumatic brain injuries can lead to bleeding, physical damage to the brain, and may cause long-term complications or even death.
Causes of traumatic brain
- Mostly, falling or playing sports are the common cause of a traumatic brain.
- In the elderly, falling is very serious as it may cause reduced ability to function, long-term cognitive effects, and impact on emotional health.
- In young people, recreational and playground activities demand emergency visits for traumatic brain treatment.
- The cause of a traumatic brain injury can be motor vehicle accidents or physical assaults sometimes.
- Gunshots, fragments from a blast, explosion, and assaults can cause injury and may cause a traumatic brain.
- Infants may suffer from the shaken baby syndrome, a traumatic brain injury caused because of violent shaking.
Symptoms of traumatic brain injury
After a traumatic brain injury, some symptoms may be subtle and appear immediately, while other signs may be severe and appear later. Sometimes, signs and symptoms even are missed as the people look fine physically but may act differently. Here are some common signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain.
- loss of consciousness after the traumatic brain injury anywhere from a few seconds to minutes and even a few hours
- headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- seizures
- dilation in the pupils
- double vision
- clear fluids or blood draining from the ears or nose
- any neurologic deficit, such as slurred speech; loss of balance, weakness of legs, arms, or face
- dizziness
- vertigo.
In moderate to severe traumatic brain injury cases, the patients may have other issues like sensory problems and may include,
- blurred vision,
- seeing stars,
- ringing in ears
- loss of sense of smell or taste
- unpleasant taste in the mouth
- sensitivity to light or sound
- mood swings
- agitation
- fatigue
- depression or anxiety
- changes in sleep patterns
- problems in concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- slowness in thinking, speaking, or reading.
Symptoms like confusion, headache, etc. start immediately after the injury; however, it resolves quickly in mild cases. Emotional symptoms like agitation, frustration, irritability, etc., develop later.
Symptoms of the traumatic brain injury in children
Similar to adults, children with a traumatic brain injury show symptoms after the injury. But it becomes difficult for the children to convey their feelings and pain. If a child has received a blow to the head and shows behavioral changes, then seek emergency medical care. Some signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury in children include,
- persistent crying
- changes in nursing or eating habits
- irritability and crankiness
- inability to be consoled
- confusion and inability of paying attention;
- lack of interest in food, a favorite toy, or activity
- changes in sleep patterns
- loss of balance
- unsteady walking
- vomiting
- seizures
- sad mood
- tiredness
- changes in performance at school.
Head or brain injuries should not be taken very lightly. They are serious, even if they are mild. Book your appointment with the doctor immediately if you think you have any signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury.
[…] public awareness related to TBI has dramatically increased, but there may be some gap in knowledge about behavioral health […]