To keep Ds at home with concussion

[user6829930]

Thought Ds (5) was coming down with a sickness bug as it's going round his class. Been fine all day but after school said he felt too sick to eat dinner and just wanted to lie down.

However in the last hour he's been crying that his head is really painful. I work at the school he attends and it's only just occurred to me that he got hit round the head with a tennis racket today. I didn't see it happen but treated him afterwards. He cried for 5 mins and then carried on playing so I didn't really think much of it.

Now I'm panicking that it could actually be concussion. He has had concussion before when he was 3 and a teen in the park kicked a football and it hit him on the head. We took him to hospital as he was being sick but they didn't do anything, they just observed him for a few hours and then sent him home. So if it is concussion is it ok to just keep him home and keep an eye on him? Obviously I'm reluctant to take him anywhere to be seen in case it is a sickness bug and then we would spread it!

A&E

If his headache doesn't go away with painkillers you need to take him to be seen at A and E. I'd be going anyway to be honest and sod it if it's a sickness bug. Better to be safe.

If it’s concussion the hospital would tell you and advised on what to watch for or for a severe concussion he would have been admitted .

if he hasn’t actually been sick but is generally well, I’d send him to school.

He's due a dose of calpol in about half an hour so I'll give him that and see how we go. Obviously if things get worse I will take him. The headache only started recently so I will see if the calpol helps it before we make a decision

You could phone 111 for advice - they usually will get back to you quickly re a child. But I'd worry about the headache plus nausea. It's hard to get a child to describe symptoms accurately but I wouldn't want to take the chance with a possible head injury, so if I didn't get a response quickly from 111, I'd go to A and E.

Although could the 'headache' actually just be a bruise?

@Onelifeonly I can't see a bruise there and there is no bump. It was a bit red after it happened but nothing came up or anything. It's just that he's now saying his head really hurts and when I asked him where he's holding the same place

He also doesn't have a temp, not sure if that matters. Although from what I've read online it seems unlikely that a concussion would happen from this type of injury

Paediatric nurse here. You need to go to A&E.

Nausea, drowsiness and a headache are all symptoms of a head injury. Better safe than sorry.

@Toddlerteaplease my worry is taking him in if it's a sickness bug. Mainly because I know how awful you feel when you've got that and also because he was admitted last year with suspected appendicitis and me and him both picked up a sickness bug and they asked us to discharge ourselves and go home at 1.30am as they didn't want it spreading round the ward, which was just an all round awful experience

Doesn't matter if it's a sickness bug. I'm sure they'd rather check him out to be on the safe side. Especially with a history of a head injury.

Take him to A&E, the sickness is a worry if he had a head injury.

you are giving your attn to a relatively unimportant scenario, and it's only a possible scenario.
concentrate on the greater risk, take him to hosp now.

There is loads guidance on concussion in children on line. Nhs and sports guidance. Checklists etc
Follow that. If they feel sick but aren't sick and don't have blurred vision / dizziness they generally say rest and no sports etc If worried A&E