From the ‘battle sign’ to ‘raccoon eyes’ – the signs your baby has suffered a life-threatening injury

IT’S pretty common for your little one to knock or bump their head.

In most cases, it won’t be serious but it’s important to monitor them if you suspect any head injury, no matter how small.

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The NHS advises you sit your tot down, comfort them and make sure they rest.

Nikki Jurcutz – the ex-paramedic because baby and child first aid page Tiny Hearts Education – said there are some key signs to look out for that indicate your child might have sustained a dangerous skull fracture from their tumble.

In a recent post, the first aider revealed the two key signs parents should keep their eyes peeled for.

1. The ‘battle sign’

The first you should be looking out for is what Nikki called ‘the battle sign’.

This is telltale bruising appearing behind your tot’s ears, which could be a sign of a fracture at the base of their skull, the former paramedic said.

2. ‘Raccoon eyes’

Nikki urged parents to also check their little ones’ eyes after they hit their head.

Another sign of a dangerous skull fracture is bruising around their peepers, that can resemble a raccoon.

WHAT IS A SKULL FRACTURE?

A skull fracture is a break in the skull bone.

According to Harvard Health, there are four major types of it.

These are:

1. a linear skull fracture, a break in the bone that doesn’t move it – no treatment is usually needed and your little one can resume normal activities within a few days
2. a depressed skull fracture, where part of the skull is sunken – surgery is needed to correct it if the skull piece is pressing against the brain
3. a diastatic skull fracture occurs along the suture lines between the skull bones, which fuse as your little one grows
4. a basilar skull fracture, which is a break in the bone at the base of the skill that can be very serious

Harvard Health said that aside from bruising behind their ears and around their eyes, your little one might also have clear fluid coming out of their nose or ears if they have a break at base of their skull.

“A child with this fracture may need to be watched closely in the hospital,” experts said.

Meanwhile, advice from Great Ormond Street Hospital states that there’s a risk of damage to the spinal cord with basilar skull fractures.

“Treatment will depend on the type of skull fracture the child has and how severe it is. It can take months for a skull fracture to heal, but the younger the child is, the faster it will heal,” it added.

The children’s hospital revealed signs that might indicate your little one has a fractured skull:

• a lump or dent on the head
• bruising or swelling on the head
• headache
• confusion or disorientation
• dizziness
• nausea or vomiting
• loss of consciousness
• clear fluid or blood running from the nose or ears
• bruising around the eyes

The NHS urges parents to call 999 if you think this is the case.

It also urged parents to go to A&E if the notice the following things in their child after a head injury:

• been knocked out but have now woken up
• vomited (been sick) since the injury
• a headache that does not go away with painkillers
• a change in behaviour, like being more irritable or losing interest in things around you (especially in children under 5)
• been crying more than usual (especially in babies and young children)
• problems with memory

Older children are also at risk of suffering a serious head injury.

It important to get them medical help if they were drinking alcohol or taking drugs just before getting injured, as well as if they’ve had brain surgery in the past or they have problems with blood clotting due to medication or haemophilia.