When should a child be taken to the hospital after a head injury, and how long should they be observed?
Applies to age: 6–60 months
In short
After a head injury, immediate medical help is needed for things including seizures, unconsciousness without waking up, a fall from a height of more than 1 meter or down more than 5 stairs, and a change in behavior. After a minor head injury, an adult should stay with the child for at least the first 24 hours.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- Most head injuries are not serious, but with any symptom it is important to get 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: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
What you can do now
All claims: international norm
- After a minor head injury, the child should rest and avoid stress; if tired, they do not have to be forced to stay awake.
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:
rest and avoid stress – you or your child do not need to stay awake if you're tired
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- For at least the first 24 hours after a minor head injury, an adult should stay with the child.
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:
make sure an adult stays with you or your child for at least the first 24 hours
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
How long it usually lasts:
- 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: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
Worth discussing with a doctor:
- If head injury symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, it is worth seeing a doctor.
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:
symptoms of a head injury last more than 2 weeks
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- A head injury after which the child was unconscious and did not wake up needs immediate 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:
has been knocked out and has not woken up
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A head injury after which the child cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open needs immediate 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:
cannot stay awake or keep their eyes open
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Seizures after a head injury need immediate 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:
has a fit (seizure)
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A fall from a height of more than 1 meter or down more than 5 stairs that ends in a head injury needs immediate 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:
has fallen from a height of more than 1 metre or 5 stairs
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Problems with vision or hearing after a head injury need immediate 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:
has problems with their vision or hearing
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Clear fluid coming from the ears or nose after a head injury needs immediate 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:
has clear fluid coming from their ears or nose
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Bleeding from the ears or a bruise behind the ear after a head injury needs immediate 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:
is bleeding from their ears or has bruising behind their ears
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- New numbness or weakness in any part of the body after a head injury needs immediate 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:
has new numbness or weakness in any part of their body
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Problems with walking, balance, understanding, speaking or writing after a head injury need immediate 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:
has problems with walking, balance, understanding, speaking or writing
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A high-speed head injury, such as in a road accident, needs immediate 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:
hit their head at high speed, such as in a road accident
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A head wound with something inside it or a dent in the head after an injury needs immediate 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:
has a head wound with something inside it or has a dent in their head
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A bruise, swelling or large cut on the head of a child under 1 year of age needs immediate 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:
has a bruise, swelling or large cut on their head and they are under 1 year old
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- A change in behavior after a head injury, such as increased irritability, distraction or loss of interest in the surroundings, needs immediate 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:
their behaviour has changed, like being more irritable or distracted, or losing interest in things around them
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Loss of consciousness is a situation in which you call an ambulance, 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: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- Impaired consciousness is a situation in which you call an ambulance (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
zaburzenia świadomości
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- Seizures are a situation in which you call an ambulance (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
drgawki
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- A fall from a great height is a situation in which you call an ambulance (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: 2026-11-04 · license [2]
- An extensive wound resulting from an injury is a situation in which you call an ambulance (999 or 112).
Source: Portal Pacjenta – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
rozległa rana, będąca efektem urazu
Portal Pacjenta · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · 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: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
- Dizziness 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:
feel dizzy
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · license [1]
At night and on holidays:
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is open around the clock on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Soboty, Niedziele i Święta: całodobowo.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-11-04 · 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.