What signs and symptoms of a concussion are of greatest concern? When should a person go to an emergency room?

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What signs and symptoms of a concussion are of greatest concern? When should a person go to an emergency room?

If a child or adult experiences any of the following symptoms in the hours or days after the head injury, get them to the hospital or call 911:

  • Severe headache or a headache that continues to get worse over time.
  • Seizures or convulsions.
  • Loss of consciousness (greater than 1 minute).
  • Severe dizziness, loss of balance or problems with walking.
  • Repeated vomiting (more than once).
  • Increasing confusion, such as difficulty recognizing people or places.
  • Clear, watery discharge from the nose or ears
  • Bloody discharge from the ears.
  • Numbness, weakness or tingling in arms or legs.
  • Unusual, bizarre or irritable behavior.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Pupils that are bigger than normal or unequal in size.
  • Extreme drowsiness, difficulty waking from sleep, or fainting.

Seek emergency care if your infant has any of these symptoms:

  • Loss of consciousness.
  • Vomiting.
  • Seizures.
  • Discharge or blood coming out of the nose or ears.
  • Unable to open eyes on their own.
  • Difficulty waking from sleep.
  • Swelling of the soft spot; bruising, especially around the eyes or behind the ears; swelling of the head; skull fracture.

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