Head injury

A fall, a road accident, or a blow to the head can bruise the brain or cause bleeding inside the skull. Some people look well at first and worsen hours later.

Go to an emergency department the same day if there was loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, a seizure, increasing drowsiness, confusion, weakness of an arm or leg, clear fluid from the ear or nose, or a worsening headache. People on blood-thinning medicines should be checked even if they feel only slightly off.

A CT scan is the usual first test in an emergency. A neurosurgeon is involved when there is a bleed, a depressed skull fracture, or swelling that may need an operation or close watching in hospital. A routine evening OPD is for stable patients who already have a scan.