Can infants and young children experience cerebral hemorrhage from falls?
Disease description:
A 1-year-old child accidentally fell from the bed at home, landing head-first. The child cried for a while after the fall but then became calm. We have observed no obvious external injuries, but we are concerned about potential internal damage, especially the possibility of brain hemorrhage.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng
Infants and young children often experience falls due to their underdeveloped coordination and balance, which are common accidental events. Usually, falls do not cause serious internal injuries, including intracranial hemorrhage.
Intracranial hemorrhage is a severe condition caused by ruptured blood vessels in the brain, leading to blood leakage into the brain tissue, formation of hematomas, and subsequent compression of surrounding brain tissues. However, in most cases, although infants may cry briefly and become frightened after a fall, serious internal injuries typically do not occur. If the fall involves a significant impact to the head or if the infant has underlying conditions such as congenital vascular malformations or intracranial aneurysms, the risk of intracranial hemorrhage following the fall may increase.
After a fall, parents should first closely observe the child's reactions and behavioral changes. If the child cries loudly immediately after the fall and subsequently behaves normally—resuming play, eating, drinking, and sleeping—this is usually a good sign, indicating that the child may not have sustained serious injuries.
However, if symptoms such as severe headache, vomiting, or impaired consciousness are observed, medical attention should be sought promptly. Additionally, parents should尽量 avoid allowing infants to play in hazardous areas such as stairs or high places to reduce the risk of falls, and should also enhance supervision to ensure the child's safety.
