What should I do if my child vomits after a blow to the head or a fall?
Applies to age: 0–36 months
In short
Vomiting after a head injury needs an urgent medical assessment. A fall from a height of more than 1 meter, or a bruise, swelling or large wound on the head in a child under 1 year old, also needs immediate medical help.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Most head injuries are not serious, but with any symptom it is important to seek medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Most head injuries are not serious, but it's important to get medical help for any symptoms.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Symptoms after a head injury may last up to 2 weeks.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
You might have symptoms for up to 2 weeks after a head injury.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed:
- A head injury after which the child was unconscious and did not wake up needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has been knocked out and has not woken up
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- A head injury after which the child cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Seizures after a head injury need immediate medical help.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a fit (seizure)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- A fall from a height of more than 1 meter or from more than 5 stairs, ending in a head injury, needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has fallen from a height of more than 1 metre or 5 stairs
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Clear fluid coming from the ears or nose after a head injury needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has clear fluid coming from their ears or nose
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- A bruise, swelling or large wound on the head in a child under 1 year old needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
has a bruise, swelling or large cut on their head and they are under 1 year old
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- A change in behavior after a head injury, for example greater irritability, distraction or loss of interest in the surroundings, needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS · international norm – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
their behaviour has changed, like being more irritable or distracted, or losing interest in things around them
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Persistent vomiting, especially with blood mixed in, needs immediate medical help.
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
uporczywe wymioty zwłaszcza z domieszką krwi
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- Loss of consciousness is a situation in which an ambulance is called, by dialing 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) or 112 (the emergency number in Poland).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
utrata przytomności
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- Impaired consciousness is a situation in which an ambulance is called (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
zaburzenia świadomości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- Seizures are a situation in which an ambulance is called (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
drgawki
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- Persistent vomiting, especially with blood mixed in, is a situation in which an ambulance is called (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
uporczywe wymioty zwłaszcza z domieszką krwi
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- A fall from a great height is a situation in which an ambulance is called (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
upadek z dużej wysokości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- Vomiting after a head injury needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
are being sick (vomiting)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Go to night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) when vomiting or diarrhea appears, especially in children and seniors.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
pojawią się wymioty lub biegunka (szczególnie u dzieci i seniorów).
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [3]
- Night and holiday care sees patients from Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 8:00 the next morning, and around the clock on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Poniedziałek – Piątek: 18:00 – 08:00 rano dnia następnego.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [3]
Polish original
Soboty, Niedziele i Święta: całodobowo.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [3]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl)License: CC BY 3.0 PL. Source: Portal Pacjenta (pacjent.gov.pl). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.