Head injuries can lead to permanent brain damage
Mar 16, 2008
WHEN a cartoon on the TV gets hit on the head, stars appear. It may be funny to see it in a cartoon, but it is not so funny when it happens for real.
By Fred Ouma
WHEN a cartoon on the TV gets hit on the head, stars appear. It may be funny to see it in a cartoon, but it is not so funny when it happens for real.
A blow or jolt to the head can disrupt the normal function of the brain. This is called a “concussionâ€. Doctors say concussions are usually not life threatening, even though their effects can be serious.
Jerome Nsajju of the Injury Control Centre at Mulago Hospital says the brain is made up of soft tissue and it is cushioned by blood and spinal fluid. When someone gets a blow to the head, the brain suddenly shifts inside the skull and can knock against the skull’s bony surface.
Sometimes this can happen with a lot of force. “After a concussion, some people lose consciousness for a short time while others are simply dazed or confused,†says Nsajju.
Experts say some symptoms of a concussion may appear right away, while others may not show up for days or weeks.
Even concussions that seem to last a few moments can be serious. You may have heard of football players and boxers who have suffered permanent medical problems because of repeated concussions.
Dr. Angelina Kakooza, a paediatrician, says in rare cases, a blood clot may form on the brain and crowd it against the skull, leading to long-lasting problems with movement, learning or speech.
In Uganda, there are statistics on concussions, although medics fear that cases of serious brain injuries are all time high. They attribute the problem to increased road accidents and injuries from falling.
Dr. John Ekure, an orthopaedic surgeon, says signs of concussion can be subtle and may be missed by the patients.
Ekure notes that most people with mild injuries recover fully, adding that recovery is slower in older persons and those who have had a concussion before.
To find out whether some who has had a head injury has a concussion, talk to them and if they cannot remember the injury, or have amnesia (memory loss), then a concussion is likely.
What to know about concussions
Mild concussions do not lead to loss of consciousness.
Symptoms may include headache, nausea, balance problems, sensitivity to light, fatigue, foggy or sluggish feeling and change in sleep patterns.
Persons with a history of three or more concussions are up to nine times more likely to have more severe symptoms following subsequent concussions.
Danger signs
Headaches that get worse
Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination
Frequent vomiting
Cannot be awakened
Have one pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other
Slurred speech
Becoming confused, restless or agitated
Children cry continuously and refuse to feed
WHEN a cartoon on the TV gets hit on the head, stars appear. It may be funny to see it in a cartoon, but it is not so funny when it happens for real.
A blow or jolt to the head can disrupt the normal function of the brain. This is called a “concussionâ€. Doctors say concussions are usually not life threatening, even though their effects can be serious.
Jerome Nsajju of the Injury Control Centre at Mulago Hospital says the brain is made up of soft tissue and it is cushioned by blood and spinal fluid. When someone gets a blow to the head, the brain suddenly shifts inside the skull and can knock against the skull’s bony surface.
Sometimes this can happen with a lot of force. “After a concussion, some people lose consciousness for a short time while others are simply dazed or confused,†says Nsajju.
Experts say some symptoms of a concussion may appear right away, while others may not show up for days or weeks.
Even concussions that seem to last a few moments can be serious. You may have heard of football players and boxers who have suffered permanent medical problems because of repeated concussions.
Dr. Angelina Kakooza, a paediatrician, says in rare cases, a blood clot may form on the brain and crowd it against the skull, leading to long-lasting problems with movement, learning or speech.
In Uganda, there are statistics on concussions, although medics fear that cases of serious brain injuries are all time high. They attribute the problem to increased road accidents and injuries from falling.
Dr. John Ekure, an orthopaedic surgeon, says signs of concussion can be subtle and may be missed by the patients.
Ekure notes that most people with mild injuries recover fully, adding that recovery is slower in older persons and those who have had a concussion before.
To find out whether some who has had a head injury has a concussion, talk to them and if they cannot remember the injury, or have amnesia (memory loss), then a concussion is likely.
What to know about concussions
Mild concussions do not lead to loss of consciousness.
Symptoms may include headache, nausea, balance problems, sensitivity to light, fatigue, foggy or sluggish feeling and change in sleep patterns.
Persons with a history of three or more concussions are up to nine times more likely to have more severe symptoms following subsequent concussions.
Danger signs
Headaches that get worse
Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination
Frequent vomiting
Cannot be awakened
Have one pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other
Slurred speech
Becoming confused, restless or agitated
Children cry continuously and refuse to feed