bump on the head

[k8bailey]

My 2 year old bumped her forehead 2 weeks ago, it swelled up very quickly at the time to about the size of half an egg, and there was some swelling for about a week. It's still slightly bruised and there is a hard ridge, you can't see it but you can feel it and she says it hurts - I don't know whether it really does or she just got used to saying that it does. Is this anything to be concerned about or will it get better soon?

[LoftyLottie]

To be on the safe side I would take her to see your GP. Better safe than sorry.

[Sqad]

It will get better soon.

[LoftyLottie]

Just thought that it might reassure k8bailey and stop her worrying if she saw a GP. I know from experience how easy it is to worry over a two year old. I am sure if there were any problems they would have manifested themselves before now.

How are you today Sqad?

[Sqad]

Fine Lofty thanks. I am naked in my study with the A\C on as it is bloody hot 31degC
Mrs sqad has a friend (female) who always comes on Friday afternoon and they are in the lounge nattering.............but not naked;-)
She bakes a cake and they eat, chat and have a glass of wine, the conversation I am sure is about me and how lucky Mrs sqad is to have me.

[LoftyLottie]

....................... or they are planning how to bump you off!! Put your boxers on man, your bits will stick to the chair!!

(Sorry K8 bailey)

[redcrx]

K8, if you are concerned then i would get an appt at GP if she says it still hurts.
Little CRX did similar at christmas and it took a while for the bruising to go but she didnt have any pain.

[k8bailey]

oh.....LOL, yes put some boxers on!!

Thanks for the advice everyone, I'll see if it still hurts on Monday.

[tamirra]

My little grand-daughter fell down some concrete steps onto her forehead just above her eye, a huge bruise immediatly came out and she had a black eye, we took her to our local hospital as all she wanted to do afterwards was sleep, they kept her over there for a few hours just to make sure she was ok, which luckly she was, and they just told us to give her calpol incase a headache should appear. She is fine now, no probs.

[RATTER15]

"it will get better soon" that's great advice from a medic that hasn't even examined the child, grossly irresponsible if you ask me!!

I would certainly take others advice on this and take her to GP or hospital, its always better to err on the side of caution.

Where I work, if we have a resident that has had literally any trauma to the head, we immediately phone a GP for advice, we go through the event with the GP and he will usually ask if we think that we require a visit, usually we will say no but in the case of such a swelling the GP will always attend!
I know I deal with the elderly but we do not take any chances with them, you must not take any chances with your little girl, there are no second chances!

I'm sure Sqad is right, it probably will get better soon, but not a chance I would take.

With any head injury that produces a significant swelling it is aways better to have it checked out, preferably not by Answerbank!!

[Sqad]

Ratter

\\"it will get better soon" that's great advice from a medic that hasn't even examined the child, grossly irresponsible if you ask me!! \\

You may well feel that my response is irresponsible and I respect you opinion.
My response was based on the history rather than physical examination as I was taught that if one hadn´t made the diagnosis after listening to the patient that examination would not add anything further.

2 weeks ago, child bumps head, no unconsciousness, no vomiting, no sleepiness, just a swelling which bruised and is taking time to settle.

I respect your opinion of me, but my reply remains unamended...."it will get better soon"

[RATTER15]

Sqad,Thank you for you honest reply.
I appreciate what you have said, I still think a trip to the GP or hospital is always the first course of action for that type of head injury, an actual examination by a qualified Dr has to be far more reliable and safe.
This isn't a pet hamster we are talking about here!

I respect your opinion of me, but my reply remains unamended: grossly irresponsible!!

[Sqad]

We are dealing with 2different situations.

If this was a child with a child or adult with a head injury of less than 24 hrs, with or without, unconsciousness, nausea or vomiting, then I would agree with your management and my advice would have been the same,plus also litigation hangs over you in your job.

This isn´t the case with our poster who had a head injury 2 weeks ago.

B@S is for opinions and to describe someone´s opinion as "irresponsible" is unhelpful to the poster but is acceptable, although I would have to have very good evidence and qualifications to use that phrase.

[ummmm]

I agree with Sqad. 2 weeks ago...!!!

Last time I took my son to hospital with an egg on his head they told me eggs were a good sign. A massive bang on the head and no lump is more worrying.

[Sqad]

Morning ummm.......Ratter is entitled to his opinion.

[pastafreak]

This reminds me of the time while on a visit to the grandparents in Scotland,lil pasta fell over on a stone path and hit her head-hard. After several calls , it was determined we should take her to the local doctor....this meant a 40 mile round trip at 9 in the evening.
The outcome...'oh-she's fine...just give her some paracetamol'

[RATTER15]

Sqad, I agree litigation does hang over me, but i seek expert advice on such situation. because I am responsible for those in my care and I wish to ensure their safety, litigation is not my main concern.

I think we can agree to disagree on this one.

[LoftyLottie]

I think that the '2 weeks' here is the most significant factor. I would take a child who had banged it's head to the extent of getting an egg shaped lump to the doctor or A&E immediately. In fact I did. The time K8bailey should have gone to the doctors was straight after the accident. However, if she is at all worried now, then a trip to the GP will put her mind at rest.

[k8bailey]

Thanks again for all the replies - I think you're probably all right, it probably will get better soon on its own, it's not serious or I'd know about it by now, but she's a child so better safe than sorry and next time, (because she's incredibly clumsy I can guarantee there will be a next time) I'll get her looked at sooner.

Unfortunately we didn't seek proper medical advice at the time...we were on holiday miles away from a hospital on a friday night. 1st aider checked her over and advised calpol and a cold cloth, and said basically what ummmm said about swelling being good. I checked on her every 20-30 mins through the night, but in hindsight, or if we'd been at home, then yes, I probably would've taken her to A&E

I think I will take her into see the GP because she is still complaining that it hurts to touch, but I suspect he will say the same as sqad.

[4getmenot]

but 2 weeks is a long time for it to heal, so I would see GP. x