Traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of birth defects in children. Brain damage can occur before or after the child has been born. Parents ought to protect their children from experiencing these kinds of brain injuries. It is also their role to note any traumatic injuries and seek immediate medical attention. If the child does not get immediate medical attention, there is a risk of death or developing complications that will affect them for the rest of their lives.
Symptoms of traumatic brain injury
The symptoms of brain injury can be physical, sensory, or cognitive. Some of the symptoms are difficult to determine in a child. It takes a doctor’s expertise to determine whether the child has suffered a brain injury. Once your child has suffered a brain injury, it is important to be on the lookout for the notable symptoms.
Physical symptoms: Headache, Dizziness, nausea, speech problems, and fatigue.
Cognitive symptoms: unusual sleeping patterns, irritation, changes in moods, and memory loss.
Sensory symptoms: Ringing in the ears, blurred vision, and changes in the ability to taste or smell.
Impacts of traumatic brain injury
The main impact of brain injuries is that they can result in certain birth defects. An example of such defects is Erb’s palsy. Whenever a child has acquired this birth defect, the parent ought to consult many doctors to determine how to best manage the condition. A brain injury that limits blood flow to the brain is the leading cause of cerebral palsy. Therefore, parents out to take the child to a medical practitioner as soon as the injury occurs. Doctors will give the child the necessary care to ensure that the injury does not result in other health conditions.
Traumatic brain damage can affect a child’s cognitive development. If it goes untreated, the child might never be able to recover from the injury. In some cases, children have been reported to die following a traumatic brain injury. Once there is a limit in blood flow to the brain, the child can have many complications that will affect their lives.
Children can suffer brain damage during or before birth. When the child lacks enough oxygen during birth, the chances of brain damage leading to Erb’s palsy are high. Asphyxia is a condition where a child lacks oxygen during birth and the labor process. Medical practitioners should be careful to prevent parents from suffering brain damage due to insufficient oxygen.
Another impact of brain injury in small children is that it can deform their skulls to the extent that it will not change in the future. If such deformities press on sensitive parts of the brain, the child might experience lifetime complications. The damage can bruise the brain cells, tore them, or cause internal bleeding. The extent of the brain injury can only be determined through a doctor’s examination.
It is important for parents to monitor small children to prevent their children from participating in activities that can cause brain injuries. The brains of young children are in the development process, and therefore, a slight injury could cause them lifetime defects.
