Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a bump or blow to the head disrupts normal brain function. Mild TBIs include concussions. Severe brain injuries could cause permanent damage or even death.1
More than 500,000 children and adolescents visit hospitals for TBI in the U.S. every year. Almost half of children with mild TBIs end up with headaches months later, along with about 37 percent of children with severe or moderate TBIs.2
Girls are more likely to experience headache following TBI than boys, with 69 percent reporting TBI following a TBI. And adolescents are more likely to have post-TBI headaches than younger children, with 45 percent occurring between the ages 14 and 18. 2
If the headaches are the result of concussion, those headaches will likely diminish over time, according to the National Headache Foundation. However, if the headaches become progressively worse or are accompanied by drowsiness, this could indicate a life-threatening hemorrhage between the skull and brain.
The NHF offers information on treating post-concussion headache online.
Have you or your child ever experienced a concussion or other TBI? Tell us about your experiences below.
References:
1. NIH. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/traumaticbraininjury.html
2. Internal Medicine News. http://www.internalmedicinenews.com/news/adolescent-medicine/single-article/chronic-headache-persists-in-children-with-head-injury/5a7105a8d6.html
