If you are a parent of a child who has suffered a head trauma, the time immediately following the accident can be terrifying. However, it’s normal for any child who has received a blow to the head to exhibit certain short-term effects. In most cases of mild and moderate brain injury, these short-term effects resolve fairly quickly. Short-term effects of brain injury include the following:

• Lack of consciousness
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Dilated pupils
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of energy; lethargy

If your child has received trauma to the head and is exhibiting any of the above signs, he should be seen by a doctor right away to rule out serious injury. The short-term effects of brain injury usually resolve within a few weeks. If your child has been diagnosed with a mild or moderate brain injury and these short-term effects persist for several months or more, additional examination is necessary.