Causes of Acquired Brain Injury in Children (Part A)
When a child experiences a head injury it may range from a minor, superficial bump to a more serious concussion or wound. No matter the circumstances, when it comes to any head injury to your child, it is always better to be safe than sorry and seek the advice of a medical professional. When the injury is caused by the negligence of another, an Andover child injury lawyer may be able to help you file for compensation for your child’s medical bills and suffering.
Overview of Acquired Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury is a form of brain injury that may not be caused by blunt trauma to the brain. This type of brain injury occurs on the cellular level and— unlike a traumatic brain injury—can affect cells throughout the entire brain. An acquired brain injury does not include injuries that are genetic, congenital, induced by birth trauma or degenerative.
Symptoms of any type of head injury that should be examined by a medical professional include:
- Loss of consciousness;
- Difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing;
- Ringing in the ears or loss of hearing;
- Vomiting;
- Confusion or memory loss;
- Paralysis or tingling/numbness in the limbs; and
- Changes in mood or mental function.
Some symptoms of acquired brain injury are experienced more frequently or severely than other types of head injury. These include a higher severity of mental impairments with thinking and memory skills and more behavioral problems such as psychosis, depression, restlessness, combativeness and hostility. Increased physical afflictions include longer lengths spent in a comatose or vegetative state and more frequent or severe muscle mobility disorders.
Causes of Acquired Brain Injury
An acquired brain injury is usually caused by non-trauma factors and there are many types of medical conditions and diseases that can result in acquired brain injury.
Some of the more common causes include:
- Prolonged lack of oxygen to the brain;
- Near-drowning;
- Electrical shock;
- Disruption of blood flow to the brain (including heart attack or stroke);
- Poisoning (especially carbon monoxide poisoning);
- Meningitis;
- Cranial tumors; and
- Seizures.
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