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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Head bump - pupil size - what's normal/ok?

26 replies

Bumperr · 09/12/2022 18:55

DS (3yo) fell in M&S yesterday and bumped his head. He had a slight bruise and the skin is a bit broken on his cheekbone and eyebrow where his glasses were hit. He cried quite a bit which is unusual for him but he's been ill so thought it was just compounding factors making him extra sad. He went to nursery today. Fell asleep in the car home from nursery and I let him sleep a bit (usually don't but, as I said, he's been a bit unwell (not contagious anymore before I get jumped on). He woke up and complained that his head hurts and that he can't see. The low lights were on in the room so instead of getting up to turn on the main lights, I used my phone torch to inspect his eye to see how it was.

When I shine the light in his eye, his pupils rapidly change from large to small and back to large and back to small over and over again. I've never seen it before. There's nothing at all about it that I can find on Google (I can find when they stay big, stay small, respond too slowly etc but nothing about changing constantly like this).

I'm on the phone to 111 but obviously they're insanely busy so asking here if anyone has seen this - will post a link to a video when I can get it sorted but it's hard to do and he doesn't like me shining a light in his eye (obviously).

OP posts:
PeonyBlush22 · 09/12/2022 18:58

Get that kid to A&E, any head injury followed by sleepiness is a worry. Can't quite picture what you mean about the pupil size.

alexdgr8 · 09/12/2022 18:58

could he see ok when you put the lights up.
if not, i'd ring 999.
also mention the drowsiness.
good luck.

OP posts:
fuckfuckfuck2021 · 09/12/2022 19:13

I would go to A&E op were you moving the light back and fore when his pupils were changing or was the light fixed in one point? If you were moving the torch them it's normal if not I would think it needs checking.

Bumperr · 09/12/2022 19:17

fuckfuckfuck2021 · 09/12/2022 19:13

I would go to A&E op were you moving the light back and fore when his pupils were changing or was the light fixed in one point? If you were moving the torch them it's normal if not I would think it needs checking.

Thank you. No, I wasn't moving the light. The light was the phone camera torch so you can see how much it moves in the video (i.e. it moves as much as the camera moves which is barely anything).

OP posts:
Tabitha888 · 09/12/2022 19:18

Please go A&E he's saying he can't see, after a head injury this isn't good x hope he's ok

Orla32 · 09/12/2022 19:27

I would go straight to a&e and show them the video of his pulsating pupils - you could be on the phone to 111 for ages.

I hope everything is ok. Poor little lad.

Bumperr · 09/12/2022 19:34

Thanks everyone. DH had the car and was out tonight but we're getting it done.

OP posts:
itsawildwildworld · 09/12/2022 19:35

Go to A&E tonight. He needs to be assessed.

Retsina24 · 09/12/2022 19:35

Hope you get him seen quickly and all is OK.

nocoolnamesleft · 09/12/2022 19:42

On that video, it looks like the light is shining on a different part of each pupil, whilst he seems to be trying to look at it. Unless he normally has a squint, that's a bit concerning, as a sudden onset squint can be a sign of a significant head injury. It's probably just a dodgy video, but would seem prudent to get checked out tonight.

GreenLeavesRustling · 09/12/2022 19:44

A and E

ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 09/12/2022 19:47

A&E.
Expect to be kept in overnight if they have any concerns. Take snacks for you both. Take some clean knickers for you!

Itsabitnotcold · 09/12/2022 19:48

Definitely A&E immediately. Anything not normal is bad.

Bumperr · 09/12/2022 19:55

Thanks everyone. Has anyone ever come across this before?

OP posts:
Bumperr · 09/12/2022 19:56

We've just spoken to SIL, who's a doctor, and she's never seen or heard of it.

OP posts:
GreenLeavesRustling · 09/12/2022 20:01

It’s called Hippus.

doesn’t seem to be associated with head injury.

but the other symptoms require A and E

GreenLeavesRustling · 09/12/2022 20:02

Ah, is sometimes associated with head injury

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippus

Bumperr · 10/12/2022 10:25

DH and DS are still waiting in A&E and no real update. The causes seem to be incredibly wide ranging so waiting on test and scan results.

OP posts:
GreenLeavesRustling · 10/12/2022 10:40

thanks for the update @Bumperr . Hope DS is feeling better soon. We’re they in all night?

GreenLeavesRustling · 10/12/2022 10:40

Were

TrianglePlayer · 10/12/2022 12:21

How is your DS now OP?

MrsSkylerWhite · 10/12/2022 12:23

Yes 111 is busy. I’d be going straight to A&E though, with a head injury and those symptoms.

Doctor friend once told me they’d rather see 100 well kids than miss a sick one.

Tabitha888 · 11/12/2022 09:58

Hello op, how is your LO doing? I've been thinking about them. Hope they are doing well xxx

MakeMineALarge1 · 11/12/2022 10:04

He doesn't look well, but this might be something else, but his pupils are reacting normally.
It's when the pupils are fixed and dilated or slow to react we worry
Was there a loss of consciousness or is he more drowsy?