Symptoms of subdural haematoma The symptoms of an acute subdural haematoma usually develop rapidly after a severe head injury – for example, as the result of a fall, violent assault or motor vehicle accident. The symptoms of a chronic subdural haematoma often develop within two to three weeks of having a head injury, which is usually minor, such as a light knock to the head. Symptoms of a subdural haematoma include: headache nausea (feeling sick) confusion personality changes – such as being unusually aggressive or having rapid mood changes decreased levels of consciousness – such as finding it difficult to keep the eyes open speech problems – e.g. slurring words or difficulty saying words impaired vision or double vision paralysis (lack of movement) on one side of the body loss of consciousness When to seek emergency medical treatment Always seek emergency medical treatment after a significant head injury. You should go immediately to the accident and emergency (A&E) department of your nearest hospital, or dial 999 to request an ambulance. A number of risk factors make a person more vulnerable to a less severe head injury resulting in a chronic subdural haematoma. These are: being 65 years old or over having a previous history of brain surgery having a condition that makes you bleed more easily, such as haemophilia, or having a condition that makes your blood more prone to clotting, such as thrombophilia taking anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medication to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin or aspirin Symptoms that could suggest that people in these groups may have developed a subdural haematoma include: previous loss of consciousness (passing out) not remembering events that occur before or after the injury persistent headaches persistent vomiting changes in behaviour, such as irritability, being easily distracted or having no interest in the outside world If you or someone in your care has any of the above signs, symptoms or risk factors, you or they should go to the nearest hospital’s accident and emergency (A&E) department to seek immediate medical attention.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 11:28:57 +0000