What Causes Headache And Severe Vomiting After Injury?

Posted on Tue, 13 Dec 2016

Question: My 8 year old son went to a baseball camp today. When I picked him up he said he had a headache which he has gotten before as he takes vyvanse. He did not take the medicine today though. As we were driving home he then told me that he was hit with a basketball in the head. He said it was not hard. Before we got home he threw up in the car. When we got home I checked his eyes and they were not dialated and he took children's aspirin and fell asleep for 45 mins. I woke home up and within 20 mins I checked his eyes which were still not dialated and he has gotten up, ate dinner and had some juice. He now told me that the ball hit him and he continued to play for a while and from what I understand his headache just got worse before I picked him up. Should I still be concerned with and brain injury? Should I still take him to the ER for a CT?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It would be better to get a CT Scan done

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

The episode of vomiting concerns me and I think that it would be a good idea to take him to the ER and get a CT Scan done (since brain injury may present with vomiting).

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)

He did only vomit once when the car was moving on our way home. For the last 2 and a half hours he has been up playing watching tv and eating a full meal. He says that his head is not hurting at all. So it is still better to do the CT even at this point?

Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Wait and watch

Detailed Answer:
In such a case you can wait. But if he has another episode of vomiting you should not take any further risk and should get the CT Scan done.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. REMY KOSHY