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Call your local emergency number or seek emergency care immediately if someone has a worsening headache that will not go away, repeated vomiting, a seizure, new weakness, worsening confusion, trouble speaking, unequal pupils, loss of consciousness, or difficulty waking after a head injury. Symptoms can appear hours or days later, so keep watching even if the person initially seems well.
When should you get emergency care after a head injury?
Act immediately if any of the following danger signs appear. Do not wait for a routine appointment or online advice. The CDC’s instruction is: “Seek immediate emergency medical care if you have any danger signs.” Use the emergency number where you are; for example, the CDC directs U.S. readers to 911, while NHS emergency guidance in the UK uses 999.
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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, difficulty walking, or problems with balance.
- Slurred speech, difficulty understanding, or another sudden communication problem.
- Increasing confusion, agitation, restlessness, unusual behavior, or inability to recognize 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.
- Clear fluid from the nose or ears; bleeding from the ears; bruising behind the ears; or a dent, open wound, or object embedded in the head.
These signs can indicate a serious injury. If the person is hard to wake, has a seizure, or is getting worse, call emergency services rather than trying to transport them yourself.
How do danger signs differ in babies and children?
Children may not be able to describe pain, dizziness, vision problems, or confusion clearly. Watch for changes from the child’s usual behavior, and take caregiver concerns seriously.
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- Inconsolable crying or crying that cannot be soothed.
- Refusing to nurse or eat.
- Any of the emergency signs listed above, including repeated vomiting, a seizure, unusual drowsiness, worsening confusion, or difficulty waking.
For a young child, a change in behavior or feeding may be more revealing than a verbal report of symptoms. If a danger sign is present, seek emergency care now.
When is urgent medical advice appropriate?
Not every concerning symptom automatically means the same care pathway, but some situations warrant prompt professional advice even when the emergency signs above are absent. NHS guidance recommends urgent advice for vomiting, dizziness, taking blood-thinning medicine or having a blood-thinning condition, alcohol or drug use at the time of injury, or other symptoms that worry you.
The NHS directs people in the UK to NHS 111 for urgent advice and 999 for emergency signs. These numbers are UK-specific. Elsewhere, contact your local urgent-care service or medical advice line; use your local emergency number if symptoms are severe, worsening, or match a danger sign. If you are advised to go for assessment, do not drive yourself.
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Symptoms of concussion or mild traumatic brain injury may not appear immediately. They can become noticeable hours or days after the injury, so watch for changes rather than relying on how the person felt right afterward.
Possible symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness or balance problems, tiredness, sensitivity to light or noise, vision problems, difficulty concentrating or remembering, feeling slowed down or foggy, irritability, sadness, anxiety, and changes in sleep. A symptom list is not a substitute for emergency triage: worsening or severe danger signs take priority.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What can you do at home after a minor head injury?
Home care is for a minor injury only when no emergency signs are present and it is appropriate to manage the injury at home. NHS guidance recommends an adult stay with the injured person for at least the first 24 hours. Rest, and use a wrapped cold pack or a bag of frozen peas on swelling for short periods.
A tired person does not need to be kept awake solely because of the head injury. NHS advice also lists paracetamol for a headache and recommends avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs during recovery.
Arrange assessment and plan a safe return to activities
If a concussion is possible, arrange assessment by a health care provider. When speaking with the provider, share how the injury happened and how forceful it was, whether the person lost consciousness and for how long, any memory loss or seizures, previous concussions, and medicines or remedies they are taking.
Avoid activities that could cause another head injury while recovering. Follow the provider’s instructions for returning to work, school, driving, and sport. If symptoms worsen after resuming regular activities, contact the provider.
The NHS says symptoms after a minor head injury can last up to two weeks and advises contacting a clinician if they persist beyond that or if there is doubt about returning to driving, work, school, or sport. Separately, CDC guidance says to contact a health care provider if symptoms have not resolved within two to three weeks or worsen after returning to regular activities. These are source-specific follow-up timeframes, not a reason to wait when symptoms are worsening or a danger sign appears.
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