DD fell down the stairs and banged her head. Seems OK but should I watch out for anything?

[Portofino]

Stairs are tiled and therefore hard! She cried a lot. After an hour she could follow my finger in front of her eyes. Was perfectly lucid. Wanted to watch a dvd.

She did seem sleepy at a too early time for her though. But her cousins are here and she had a busy day and all the crying might have made her extra tired.

She's gone to sleep, and seems to be sleeping normally. I suggested taking her to A&Em but dh and dsis said it wasn't necessary. That if she was concussed there would be other symptons. I guess I'm just neurotic mother at the mo.....

[HeadFairy]

I think excessive drowsiness and nausea/vomiting are the things you're supposed to look out for after a bump on the head.

[FluffySaysTheDailyMailsShite]

did she fall from the top? How high?

I'd take her to A&E but I'm also a neurotic mum, I also trained as a paeds nurse so I know fractures can happen when children fall.

[Doobydoo]

Well I would either sleep in with her or check extremely regularly or go to A and E.I too am neurotic mother and soon to be returning to Paediatric nursing.
How old is your dd?
HeadFairy also correct.

[Portofino]

Half way down I think - I didn't see. She is 5. She screamed loudly when she reached the bottom. She might have a few bruises but no bones broken. She has a bump on her forehead. As i didn't see the fall I don't know what she hit, where, and how hard....

[Moosy]

When DD1 feel down the stairs at about 17 months old I was told to watch out for clear/white fluid coming out of nose, ears or eyes, I don't know what that is but apparently it's bad and should be looked out for.

[Doobydoo]

I think Nhs direct would say what HeadFairy said but that if you are concerned take her to A and E.

[Piffle]

if you go to her and just try to lightly rouse her - stroke her head, see if she responds abruptly or as normal.
This is what we were told recently by NHS direct as a first check as I had let him sleep.
He did react normally. This is alongside the obvious things like vomiting/fluid in the ears or grogginess.
I have been concussed several times, it is pretty apparent something is not right usually.

[HeadFairy]

Moosy - clear fluid coming out of the ears or nose is cerebrospinal fluid I think. I seem to remember that it's a sign of a bad head injury (from my rather distant first aid training)

[vixma]

As a mum and a childminder I always fall on the line of caution with a headbump.....if not sure take her into A+E, just to be safe, keep an eye on her for the next few days for drowsyness etc. I have found with myself and others I know that NHS direct are not always that good, don't want to scare you, but if you are in doubt at all, take them in to see a pro.

[Portofino]

Just been to check again. She stirred and told me to go away! I asked her if she wanted a bit of "twinkle twinkle" and the answer was a definite no! I'm thinking that she is OK!

[HeadFairy]

I think that sounds ok if it's normal behaviour for her. If she's excessively grumpy tomorrow (much more than usual, out of character etc) then you might want to take her to a gp, as personality changes can be something to watch out for, but I'd would be tempted to let her sleep for tonight. Everyone's grumpy when woken up in the middle of the night

[Portofino]

PS I'll check her again in a little bit, and obviously watch her tomorrow. Dsis has 3 boys and is obviously much more used to these things.....She saw no cause for alarm, but still......

[HeadFairy]

I hope she's ok tomorrow.

[bellabelly]

One of my twins bashed his head yesterday and got bad cut on his forehead so took him to docs. I asked doc about possibility of concussion and he told me it's much more likely to happen if they ban the BACK of their head - said forehead is most resilient place for a knock.

[bellabelly]

bang, not ban, obviously!

[bellabelly]

bang, not ban, obviously!

[Portofino]

Well she's full of the joys of spring this morning. Thanks for all your reassurance!

[Doobydoo]

Hurrah,Glad she is ok.