JOIN USA traumatic head injury can have several physical and psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later. The terms “mild”, “moderate” and “severe" are used to describe the effect of the injury on brain function. A mild injury to the brain is still a serious one that requires prompt attention and an accurate diagnosis. Listed below are the different kinds of head injuries and the physical, sensory and cognitive symptoms that could follow them.
Mild injuries
Physical symptoms:
*Loss of consciousness from a few seconds to a few minutes. A state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
*Headache
*Nausea or vomiting
*Fatigue or drowsiness
*Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual.
*Dizziness or loss of balance
Sensory symptoms
*Blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth or changes in the ability to smell
*Sensitivity to light or sound
Cognitive symptoms
*Memory or concentration problems
*Mood changes or mood swings
*Feeling depressed or anxious
Moderate to severe injuries
Physical symptoms
*Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
*Persistent headache
*Repeated vomiting or nausea
*Convulsions or seizures
Sensory symptoms
*Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
*Clear fluid discharge from the nose or ears
*Inability to stay awake
*Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes.
*Loss of coordination
Cognitive symptoms
*Profound confusion
*Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behaviour
*Slurred speech
*Coma and other disorders of consciousness
Symptoms observed in children
*Change in eating or nursing habits
*Persistent crying
*Unusual behaviour or easy irritability
*Change in the ability to pay attention
*Change in sleep habits
*Sad or depressed mood
*Loss of interest in toys or other activities.
(The author is a consultant neurosurgeon at K J Somaiya Hospital Super Speciality Centre)