These injuries can range from a minor bump on the skull to a devastating brain injury. Head injury can be classified as either closed or penetrating. In closed head injury, the head sustains a blunt force by striking against an object. In penetrating head injuries, a high velocity object breaks through the skull and enters the brain. The signs and symptoms of a head injury may occur immediately or develop slowly over several hours.
Most head injuries are minor.
The skull provides the brain with considerable protection form injury. Most head injuries are mild, but head injury may be a serious problem when it occurs. If a child begins to play or run immediately after getting a bump on the head, serious injury is unlikely. However, the child should still be closely watched for the next day, since sometimes symptoms of a head injury are delayed. When encountering a victim of a head injury, try to find out what happened.