As long as your head injury is minor you don't need to visit your GP or hospital for treatment. If you have signs of a severe head injury get immediate medical help.
Read a list of the symptoms of a severe head injury to find out when you need urgent medical attention.
If you are concerned about a head injury, see your GP. Otherwise, follow the advice below.
Advice for adults
If you have a minor head injury:
- ask someone to stay with you and keep within easy reach of a telephone and medical help for the first 48 hours after the injury
- have plenty of rest and avoid stressful situations
- do not drink alcohol
- do not take sleeping pills, sedatives or tranquillisers (unless they are prescribed by your doctor)
- do not take aspirin (unless it is prescribed by your doctor)
- take painkillers, such as paracetamol, if you have a headache (always follow the manufacturer’s instructions)
- do not play any contact sport, such as football or rugby, for at least three weeks, and speak to your doctor before you start playing again
- do not return to work, college or school until you have completely recovered and feel ready
- do not drive a car, motorbike or bicycle or operate machinery until you have completely recovered
Go to a hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department if you:
- lose consciousness or become confused, for example not knowing where you are
- have clear fluid leaking from your ear or nose
- are drowsy (sleepy) when you would usually be awake
- have problems speaking or understanding other people
- lose your balance or have difficulty walking
- lose power in part of the body, for example in an arm or leg
- develop a new problem with your eyesight
- have a headache that keeps getting worse
- have been sick
- have a seizure (fit), when your body suddenly moves uncontrollably
Advice for children
If your child has a minor head injury:
- give them painkillers, such as paracetamol, if they have a mild headache (always read the manufacturer’s instructions and never give aspirin to children under 16 years of age)
- avoid getting them too excited
- do not have too many visitors
- do not let them play contact sports, such as football or rugby
- make sure that they avoid rough play for a few days
Take your child back to the accident and emergency (A&E) department of your local hospital if they:
- are unusually sleepy or you cannot wake them
- have a headache that is getting worse
- are unsteady when they walk
- are repeatedly sick
- have a seizure (fit)
- develop a squint or blurred vision, or they start to see double
- lose consciousness
Go to A&E if your baby has a minor head injury and continues to cry for a long time.
