After taking a blow to the head, you need to worry about the possibility of skull fractures and damage to the brain. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can cause long-term issues if not cared for properly and in good time.
Thus, it is in your best interest to quickly identify skull fractures or other signs of TBIs and get treatment as fast as possible.
Physical signs you may notice
Merck Manual discusses the red flags that might indicate a skull fracture. Fortunately for onlookers, physical signs tend to manifest prominently and in an easily noticed way. For example, a victim could suffer from unconsciousness or unresponsiveness, or may even fall into a comatose state, indicating something is obviously wrong.
In other cases, victims might struggle to feel or move their limbs and extremities. They could struggle with full-body mobility, as well, and might suffer from problems with balance.
You may also notice bruising around the eyes or behind the ears. This occurs when blood in the skull settles in the hollow points. Blood may pool behind the eardrums and leak out through the ears if the eardrums burst, as well, along with clear fluid known as cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid, which covers the surface of the brain, serves as a necessity for brain health. Noticing leaks of cerebrospinal fluid should prompt immediate attempts to contact medical experts.
Prominent neurological symptoms
A victim may also experience and display neurological symptoms. This can include severe confusion and an inability to identify one’s surroundings or people. Victims may also behave erratically and irrationally, and could throw tantrums or lash out at others, or even suffer from emotional breakdown. These further indicate the potential for skull and brain damage that might plague the person in question.