Head Injury, Age 4 and Older
When To See a Doctor
You have answered Yes to:
Is your scalp still bleeding after a head injury?
See significance of bleeding after a head injury if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.
Note: If you need a tetanus shot, call your doctor to arrange for the shot as soon as possible.
- Your need for a tetanus shot depends on the seriousness of your wound and your tetanus shot history.
- Your doctor may be able to tell you over the telephone if you need a tetanus shot.
Note: Cuts that require treatment should be evaluated by a doctor within 8 hours. To decide whether a cut may need medical treatment, see the topic Cuts.
Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Do you have moderate bleeding that has not stopped after 15 minutes of direct pressure?
Yes Do you have mild bleeding from the scalp that has not stopped after applying direct pressure 3 times for 15 minutes each (45 minutes total)?
Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Were you cut by something clean and your last tetanus shot was longer than 10 years ago?
Note:: Something is clean if it does not have dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a broken water glass, a kitchen knife, or sewing scissors.
Yes Were you cut by something dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?
Note:: Something is dirty if it has dirt, soil, spit, or feces on it. Examples include a garden tool, a dirty nail, or a piece of glass that has been buried in the dirt.
Yes Are you not sure if you were cut by something clean or dirty and your last tetanus shot was longer than 5 years ago?
Yes Are you not sure when you had your last tetanus shot?
Yes Did you not get the first series of tetanus shots (primary vaccination series)?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: September 15, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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