After a head injury, get emergency care immediately for worsening headache, repeated vomiting, a seizure, new weakness or numbness, trouble walking or speaking, worsening confusion, unequal pupils, loss of consciousness, or difficulty waking. Symptoms can appear hours or days later, so keep watching for changes even if the person initially seems well. This is general guidance, not a diagnosis; use your local emergency service for danger signs.
When should you seek emergency care?
Seek emergency care immediately if any of these danger signs appear after a head injury. The CDC says: “Seek immediate emergency medical care if you have any danger signs.”
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- A headache that is getting worse and does not go away.
- Repeated vomiting.
- A seizure or convulsion.
- New weakness or numbness, reduced coordination, or trouble walking or balancing.
- Slurred speech, trouble understanding, or another sudden communication difficulty.
- Increasing confusion, agitation, restlessness, unusual behavior, or difficulty recognizing familiar people or places.
- Loss of consciousness, increasing drowsiness, inability to stay awake, or difficulty waking.
- One pupil larger than the other or double vision.
- Signs of a serious injury, such as clear fluid from the ears or nose, bleeding from the ears, bruising behind the ears, or a dent, open wound, or embedded object.
Do not wait for a routine appointment or online advice if a danger sign is present. Use the emergency number and care pathway where you are. CDC guidance refers US readers to 911; NHS guidance directs UK readers to 999 for emergency signs.
When is urgent professional advice appropriate?
Some symptoms or circumstances warrant prompt professional advice even when the emergency signs above are absent. NHS guidance identifies vomiting, dizziness, taking blood-thinning medicine or having a blood-thinning condition, alcohol or drug use at the time of injury, and other worrying symptoms as reasons to contact its urgent advice service. In the UK, that service is NHS 111. Elsewhere, use your local urgent-care or medical advice pathway.
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If a health professional advises assessment after a head injury, NHS guidance says not to drive yourself.
What should you watch for in a child?
Children may not be able to describe how they feel, so changes from their usual behavior matter. Inconsolable crying or refusing to nurse or eat are danger signs in infants and young children; the adult warning signs also apply. Seek emergency care for danger signs, and tell a health care provider about concerning changes.
For a very young child, behavior and feeding changes may be more useful than asking them to explain symptoms. If you are unsure what to do after a child hits their head, contact a health professional for guidance; do not let uncertainty delay emergency care when danger signs are present.
Can symptoms start later?
Yes. Symptoms of concussion or mild traumatic brain injury may not be obvious at first and can appear or be noticed hours or days after the injury. Monitor for changes, including:
- Physical symptoms: headache, nausea, dizziness, balance problems, tiredness, sensitivity to light or noise, or vision problems.
- Thinking and memory changes: difficulty concentrating or remembering, or feeling slowed down or foggy.
- Mood or behavior changes: irritability, sadness, anxiety, or unusual behavior.
- Sleep changes.
This symptom list is not a substitute for triage: worsening or severe symptoms that match the emergency warning signs need immediate care.
What can you do at home after a minor injury?
Home care is appropriate only when there are no emergency signs and the injury can safely be managed at home. NHS guidance recommends these steps:
- Have an adult stay with the injured person for at least the first 24 hours.
- Let the person rest. Someone who feels tired does not need to be kept awake solely because of the injury.
- For swelling, apply a wrapped cold pack or a bag of frozen peas for short periods.
- For a headache, NHS guidance lists paracetamol. Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs while recovering.
Keep observing for new or worsening symptoms. If you become concerned, seek professional advice or emergency care according to the symptoms.
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A possible concussion should be assessed by a health care provider. Useful details to share include how the injury happened and its force, any loss of consciousness and how long it lasted, memory loss, seizures, previous concussions, and medicines or remedies being taken.
Avoid activities that could cause another head injury while recovering. Follow your clinician’s instructions about returning to work, school, driving, and sport; do not resume these activities based on a general timetable alone. Discuss symptoms that worsen after returning to regular activities with a health care provider.
The guidance gives different follow-up timeframes: NHS advises contacting a clinician if symptoms persist beyond two weeks after a minor injury, while CDC advises contacting a provider if symptoms do not resolve within two to three weeks or worsen after resuming regular activities. These are source-specific recommendations, not a reason to wait when symptoms are severe, worsening, or otherwise concerning.
Quick Recap
Sources
- CDC: Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion (updated and reviewed September 15, 2025).
- NHS: Head injury and concussion.
- CDC HEADS UP: Signs and Symptoms of Concussion (updated and reviewed September 15, 2025).
- CDC HEADS UP: What to Do After a Concussion (updated September 15, 2025).
- CDC: What to Do After a Mild TBI or Concussion (updated September 15, 2025).
- CDC: About Mild TBI and Concussion (updated September 15, 2025).
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