Head Injury: Definition, Symptoms, Causes & Types

• Written by Jyotsana Shekhawat

  Reviewed by Munmi Sharma

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While driving a car or a two-wheeler, the drivers are always at a risk of accidents and injuries no matter how safely one drives.   Yet, many often ignore road safety, leading to massive road mishaps. As of 2021, 1.5 lakh people have lost their lives to fatal road accidents in India, roughly translating into 1100+  accidents and 420+  deaths every day.

Shockingly, head injury is the top reason why people lose their lives in road accidents. The primary cause of traumatic brain injury is usually due to traffic collisions where people either lose their life on the spot or at the hospital.  

This article will highlight how head injuries and fatal road accidents are closely connected and how you can secure yourself against expensive head injury treatment costs with Care Health Insurance Plans. 

What is a Head Injury?

Any injury that is caused either to your brain, skull or scalp is a head injury. It could vary from a mild bruise or bump to a traumatic head injury. Concussions, scalp wounds and skull fractures are the most common head injuries that may have severe consequences if left untreated. 

Fatal car accidents may lead to a number of head injuries that could be mild or severe. Such injuries include:

• Contusions or bruises
• Skull fractures
• Concussions
• Intracranial haemorrhages (broken arteries in the brain)
• Diffuse axonal injuries (damage from the brain moving inside the skull)

Types of Head Injuries

Fatal road accidents could cause massive damage to your brain. Below mentioned are the head injury classification that are caused due to road accidents:

Hematoma

A hematoma is a clotting or collection of blood outside and around the blood vessels. It could be extremely severe if a hematoma happens in the brain. It could build up pressure inside your skull, and you can lose consciousness, which may lead to permanent damage to your brain.

Haemorrhage

There are two types of haemorrhage one is subarachnoid haemorrhage, and other one is intracerebral haemorrhage. You can experience uncontrolled bleeding in the space around the brain in subarachnoid haemorrhage, and in intracerebral haemorrhage, there is excessive bleeding within the brain tissue.

Concussion

It happens when the collision on the head is severe enough to injure the brain. It happens when the brain hits against the walls of your skull, or there is a sudden force of acceleration and deceleration. One may lose brain function temporarily with a concussion, but repeated concussions could lead to permanent damage.

Edema

Edema, or swelling, could be caused due to any brain injury, and it swells the surrounding tissues but gets more severe when in your brain. It forms pressure in your brain as the skull can’t stretch enough to give swelling space causing the brain to press against the skull.

Skull fracture

The human skull has 22 bones that bind together through cranial sutures. The skull acts as a shell to harden the brain. Several types of skull fractures occur when a stroke impact is strong enough to break your head bone. 

Symptoms of Head Injury

Symptoms depend on the type and location of the injury. One may experience the following signs and complications of head injuries: 

Minor symptoms:

• Bleeding from the wound
• Swelling or redness at the location of the trauma
• Severe pain at the location of the trauma
• Bruising around the location of the trauma

Major symptoms:

• Weak ability to concentrate
• Disturbed sleeping patterns
• Loss of balance
• Emotional disturbances
• Depression or anxiety
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Disorientation and confusion
• Amnesia or memory loss
• Fatigue
• Constant Headaches
• Visual problems

Causes of Head Injury

Head injuries can occur owing to various factors, including external force to the skull and trauma. The common causes of head injury are:

• Falls, which are frequent among children and older adults
• Road accidents that result in direct blows to the head
• Sports-related accidents, especially high-impact games like boxing or football

In addition to that, workplace incidents can result in head injuries, particularly in case of mining or construction. While it is less frequent, violence is also one of the causes of head injury.

When Does a Head Injury Require Medical Attention?

A head injury requires immediate medical intervention when followed by certain symptoms including frequent vomiting, seizures, unconsciousness, slurred speech, or inability to get up. That’s not all, the symptoms can also pose in the form of skull fractures, persistent headaches, or fluid leakages from ears or nose. In fact, mild symptoms like confusion or dizziness also give a hunch about internal damage. If you doubt the severity of the injury, it is best to reach out to a medical professional to prevent further complications, such as internal bleeding or swelling.

How is a Head Injury Treated?

Treatment for head injuries can vary depending on the severity. Minor injuries, like concussions, usually require individuals to take proper rest, and over-the-counter pain relief for managing the impact. In case of moderate to severe head injuries, individuals may need advanced medical help, which includes:

• Imaging tests and assessments to determine the complexity of the injury
• Medications to control seizures or swelling
• Surgeries to relieve pressure on the brain
• Physical and cognitive rehabilitation for recovery in many cases

How are Head Injuries and Fatal Road Accidents Closely Connected?

Brain injuries can be devastating as it causes major morbidity and mortality worldwide. Road accidents are one of the major causes of fatal head injuries. Such injuries could be lethal as they could be deadly, causing hospitality. Road accidents result in the highest number of fatalities across the world. Being the well-known reason for mortality across the world, because of mobility, weight and eccentricity, road accidents make you more vulnerable to accidents when you are on the road. Thus, wearing helmets while on the road is always recommended as your head is more prone to hurt in road accidents that may cause sudden demise or lifelong disability.

How does a Personal Accident Insurance Plan Help? 

Personal Accident Insurance acts as a boon in case you meet with an accident and need immediate medical assistance. Although both personal accident and health insurance plans cover accidents, there is a very thin line difference in coverage they offer. Where an accident insurance policy offers death benefits, a regular health insurance policy only covers treatment expenses.

With a comprehensive sum insured up to 3 cr, Care Health Insurance's Personal Accident Insurance offers coverage for accidental death, disability and injuries including burns and fractures. Child education cover, loyalty benefit, double sum insured payable in case of PTD, PPD and death due to common carrier mishap etc. are some of the unique features of this plan. 

>> Also Read: Reasons Why You Need a Personal Accident Insurance

Disclaimer: The above information is for reference purposes only. Kindly consult your general physician for verified medical advice. The health insurance benefits are subject to policy terms and conditions. Refer to your policy documents for more information.