Common signs of brain bruising are also associated with other head injuries, such as a concussion. These symptoms include a person losing consciousness after an impact to the head, dizziness, irritability, vomiting and slurred speech. The person might have problems performing a number of motor skills, including walking. Also, one eye’s pupil might be dilated larger than the other, the person might experience a seizure or have limited use of his limbs on one side of his body.
The signs of brain contusions alert individuals, including those close to a patient, of the possibility of a serious medical condition that has resulted from a high impact to a person’s head. A person might have a concussion as well as bruising, since both conditions result from the brain slamming against the inside of the patient’s skull. The only way to tell for sure that a person is suffering from brain bruising is to take him to a hospital or other health care facility.
Some symptoms are more specific to brain bruising and not other conditions resulting from an impact to a person’s head. The person might have bruises beginning to form around the eyes or ears as a result of the impact to the brain. Also, clear fluid coming out of the person’s nose, mouth or ears indicates the cover over the brain has ruptured along with the brain bruising, allowing the liquid to flow out of the head.
Children, especially those that cannot talk, might display different symptoms of brain bruising. Constant crying well after an impact to the child’s head, sudden changes in eating habits or changes in a child’s sleeping all can point to a brain contusion. A high level of irritability might also be caused by brain bruising. When a child is suffering from a brain contusion, he might also not be interested in toys that normally hold his attention, or in other activities he normally enjoys on a regular basis.
If a person has any of these symptoms after experiencing a blow to the head, he needs to seek immediate medical attention. Normally the patient is placed under close observation until doctors can run scans to determine if any brain bruising is present. A doctor might also order blood work, which can reveal important details about any potential injury to the patient’s brain. Unless treated by a qualified medical professional, brain contusions can be fatal.