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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

not to go to A&E with head injury - 6yo

56 replies

JonSnowKnowsNowt · 13/08/2015 19:49

6yo DS hit his head this lunchtime - fell off a bench in the kitchen (from a sitting position) on to his head on a hard slate floor. I wasn't with him at the time so didn't see what happened, but it sounds like he was just sitting right on the edge of the bench, reading, and slid off the end - not sure how he managed to land head first.

Anyway, at intervals through the afternoon, he's said his head is hurting, although otherwise seems completely normal - playing, running around, went swimming etc. etc.

Just a bit worried that it's still hurting now at bedtime. It's not the scalp, I've felt all over that and there's no tender bits, and no injury that you can see/feel. DS was particularly tired at teatime too, though that's not unusual for him esp. when he's been swimming.

Part of me wants to take him to A&E just to be sure, but DH thinks that's an over-reaction, and looking online, I think he's right.

All the websites say to check on them in the night - but check for what? What can you tell when they're asleep?

OP posts:
addictedtosugar · 13/08/2015 21:23

Agree with those saying keep an eye on him, but no A&E at the moment.
Yes, if you prod him, and he sighs and rolls over, that's enough to say he's still conscious. Vomiting or fading in and out of consciousness is medical attention, but saying his head hurts is not. If he'd hit his leg and bruised it, it would hurt!

Original poster
JonSnowKnowsNowt · 13/08/2015 21:46

Thanks all. I have him tucked up in bed next to me at the moment, so I can prod him regularly.

OP posts:
YeOldeTrout · 13/08/2015 21:52

awww. I wouldn't have gone either, fwiw.

BlackeyedSusan · 13/08/2015 21:57

ive rung 111 and had a call back from a dr who gave advice of what to look for oover the phone. different set of symptoms though.

Wolfiefan · 13/08/2015 21:59

My DD didn't have a lump. She really bashed her head though. Wonder if this was due to icing the bump?

StitchingMoss · 13/08/2015 23:33

Thank you RichSheffield - the "just checking" brigade are killing the NHS Sad.

Floggingmolly · 13/08/2015 23:36

Not as quickly as health tourism, Stitching.

nocoolnamesleft · 13/08/2015 23:38

Intrigued by all the "no bump is bad" comments - one of the indications for CT scan after a head injury in under 1s (yes, I know, a slightly different group) is a bump on the head bigger than 5 cm...

girliefriend · 13/08/2015 23:40

I think if there was an increase in pressure inside his skull he would be vomiting and much more unwell.

See how he is in the morning, if still complaining of a headache I would probably speak to a GP for reassurance.

buffyp · 13/08/2015 23:53

Stitching it is all very well blaming the just checking brigade for killing the nhs but you don't know what else the parents may have gone through in the past. I lost my son nearly two years ago from brain surgery to remove a tumour so I am afraid I am a little more anxious when it comes to my surviving children's health. Generally speaking I don't take them to a and e for a knock but if I ever had the slightest doubt then I wouldn't hesitate and I sure as hell won't be made to feel guilty for it. I say this as a ex nurse as well although not a paediatric one. I realise what people are saying about clogging up the system but please don't rush to judge those of us who may be a little more anxious than normal.

nikki1978 · 13/08/2015 23:54

No I wouldn't have gone. Ds had a bad bang to the head once then said he had a bad headache and wouldnt eat. I took him to a&e because he vomited twice and was confused. He was fine though just a mild concussion :)

ThisFenceIsComfy · 13/08/2015 23:59

My DS fell backward onto a concrete path. Cried immediately then was fine. 5 hours later, he vomited once. I rang the OOH GP as I find 111 a bit useless. She said that as he was running around ok, behaving normally, that I didn't need to have him checked and I should just monitor for 24-48 hours. He was fine.

amarmai · 14/08/2015 01:11

if your son fell from the end of a bench which he was sitting on, then would he have hit the side of his head? The temples are more dangerous when hit. why would your h be against checking him out?

IHeartKingThistle · 14/08/2015 01:30

My DD (7 at the time) fell and hit her head last year. Very little in the way of a bump but it was immediately very obvious she had to go to A+E (couldn't stand, not fully conscious). When we got there she started vomiting and was then sick every half hour for 18 hours. It was a skull fracture. (She's fine now btw).

I know there are lots of different scenarios with head injuries but I think keeping an eye on him in your bed is good advice.

Original poster
JonSnowKnowsNowt · 14/08/2015 02:36

why would your h be against checking him out?

just because the websites, NHS etc, say that more symptoms than a headache are needed for them to do anything other than monitor (which we are doing).

OP posts:
stargazer2030 · 14/08/2015 04:04

I think you are doing the right thing. If you did take him to AnE they wouldn't do anything from the symptoms you describe. It would just involved hanging around for ages with a tired little boy.
Bumped heads are always a real worry though. Having him in bed sounds sensible.

stargazer2030 · 14/08/2015 04:11

On a side note - My dn banged his head a few years ago (aged about 3). Had a massive egg but seemed okay, went to play centre as planned. After a couple of hours he literally went grey, vomited became very lethargic - all the things to look out for so sis took him straight to children's.
Turned out to be fine. He had coincidentally started with a viral infection - nothing to do with the bump.
A few days later sis got a really snotty letter from her GP telling her AnE was for emergencies only, she should have gone to GP first etc ...

Pseudonym99 · 14/08/2015 09:20

Don't forget every time you go to A&E a red flag gets raised for child protection issues, so you might as save your quota of red flags before SS get involved for serious issues.

Findtheoldme · 14/08/2015 10:20

My child fell and banged his head. Didn't lose consciousness and didn't vomit. Took him to hospital. They did x-Ray him...

He did have bleeding from one ear which may have been the reason but to categorically state they won't x-Ray without vomiting and loss of consciousness is just wrong and you are being very cavalier with other people's children who may read your post and think it is gospel. Let's hope no one dies.

Bollocks Ime about raising red flags to SS. My three have been several times and I only had a call ONCE from a HV to ask what had happened. Another poster spouting as if it is gospel.

Pseudonym99 · 14/08/2015 12:16

Well, the fact you got a call from your HV proves red flags are raised. You might not have got calls the other times, but they will certainly be logged and will be used as evidence should they need some evidence in the future.

CoogerAndDark · 14/08/2015 12:24

That's alarmist bollocks, Pseudo. There is no 'quota' of red flags to use up.

StitchingMoss · 14/08/2015 12:24

Findtheold, "bleeding from the ear" is very significant and the reason he was x rayed! A child displaying no symptoms will not be x rayed - it's pointless and unnecessary.

I have a child who hits his head regularly - he's been to A&E 3 times, twice to be glued and once because he briefly lost consciousness but he was fine and we didn't stay to be seen by the doc in the end because we could see that for ourselves.

Kids bang their heads constantly - if everyone went to A&E it would be a disaster for those who genuinely need tx.

muminhants1 · 14/08/2015 12:30

That's alarmist bollocks, Pseudo. There is no 'quota' of red flags to use up.

No it isn't. Even 40 years ago my mum had a visit from social services after she'd taken me to A&E once too often.

OP - make sure you know the symptoms of compression and go straight to A&E if you spot them. Concussion isn't dangerous and will sort itself out. Compression is life-threatening.

CoogerAndDark · 14/08/2015 12:34

Anecdote isn't data, muminhants. But here's mine anyway. Ds admitted loads, never had a visit from SS.
They really have better things to do than sit and look at the number of times and visit when a quota is reached.
People on a parenting site should bear in mind that spouting silly untruths like that could lead to a child in need of medical attention being kept away and that is dangerous.

Original poster
JonSnowKnowsNowt · 14/08/2015 12:50

Thanks for mentioning the concussion/compression difference muninhants. I have checked on the symptoms of both (there is a bit of overlap, but you're right they are different conditions).

The only after-effect of DS's bump to the head is his headache. He still had it this morning but less so, and it seems to be going away now. If it's not gone by tonight, I will take him to A&E. He doesn't have any of the other symptoms, and the websites seem to say that compression symptoms can be recognised by the fact they get constantly worse and not better.

I'm keeping an eye on him, he is absolutely normal in behaviour, appetite, cheerfulness etc.

Not worried about red flags at A&E and wouldn't let that stop me from getting help - even though we were there last week for an X-ray for a foot injury! (though that was the first time for years). Paediatrician at hospital knows us well from other DC's medical condition, and I don't have any worries about that. Both injuries took place when DC in someone else's care, not mine (not the same person).

OP posts: