Mildness in children: frequent doubts
The eagerness to experiment and explore that children have, above all, the smallest ones, causes that during the first years of life they suffer numerous falls and a long list of incidents. Many of these "adventures" can entail danger and end with a major blow that produces the appearance of the so-called "bumps".
Why are the bumps formed?
The bumps are the most visible consequence of a blow to the head, which can be derived from the intrepid actions of children. When a blow to the head or a bump occurs, there is a rupture of small blood vessels that causes a slight hemorrhage and inflammation. This is an area where there is little space between the skull and the skin, and as the blood accumulates rapidly, the "bump" appears.
Is it good to let the bump come out?
The exit of the bump is almost immediate after the blow, so it is difficult to stop its exit, but applying cold and pressing for a few minutes is an optimal measure to prevent it from spreading or increasing in size.
Other homemade measures that help to mitigate the inflammation are smear the punch with olive oil or butter, apply an anti-inflammatory ointment, or menthol in the hit area.
How to act before a bump after a blow to the head?
1. Strike with cut and wound
- When the child bleeds when having a cut on the skin, the recommendation is to wash it under the tap with cold water and press the wound with gauze to stop the bleeding. And also, apply ice, never directly, but wrapped in a cloth.
- If the Wound is deep it is necessary to go to a health center within the first 4 hours so that they can give you points or perform a suture.
- In the event that the child has foreign bodies embedded in the wound, Do not touch the wound and go to the emergency room.
2. Strike without injury
- Apply local cold or ice always wrapped in a cloth.
- Give an analgesic, if the child complains of headache
- Observe if the bump gets bigger, lengthens or becomes soft.In these cases, it is advisable to go to a health center as soon as possible.
As the days pass, the bump will change color, from red or blackish to greenish, until it acquires a yellowish hue before disappearing. Occasionally, it is possible that with the passage of time the inflammation and bleeding will go down to the eyes and they will appear bruised. Generally, it will occur only in one eye, that is, on the side where the blow has occurred.
When should I see a doctor?
Whenever there is a trauma to the head, it must be evaluated by a doctor, especially when dealing with a child, who will ask about the circumstances of the blow and will make a first assessment of the child's condition.
However, the observation of the parents during the following 24-48 hours is fundamental since they are the ones who know their child best and can detect if there is any anomaly in their behavior after the blow.
It is recommended to go to the doctor or emergency service before:
- Vomiting
- Excessive drowsiness
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Intense headache.
Dr. Paloma Nacher, Head of the Pediatric Emergency Service of the Hospital La Milagrosa in Madrid