Brain Swelling Due to Trauma

Trauma to the brain can be extremely dangerous. One of the side effects of brain trauma is swelling, which causes the brain tissue to press on the skull, and it can lead to stroke, coma and, even, death.

Causes

• Causes for brain swelling can be severe, such as a gunshot wound, car accident or bad fall, or minor, such as a small bump on the head or falling off a bike. The trauma has to have enough force to damage the brain.

Symptoms

• The swelling of the brain cuts off oxygen to the tissue. The patient becomes disoriented and may have a headache. The patient may experience a loss of sensation in parts of the body, dizziness, speech loss, fluid drainage from the nose or mouth and drowsiness.

Diagnosis

• It's important the victim is taken to a hospital when suffering from trauma to the head. The doctor observes the symptoms and conducts several neurological tests, including an MRI, reflex test and reactions to environmental factors, such as light.

Treatment

• Typically, an overnight hospital stay is all that's needed for minor brain swelling. The doctors watch the patient for any neurological changes. If there's too much pressure on the skull, doctors may insert a shunt to drain any brain fluid buildup.

Prevention

• Although you can't avoid all brain injuries, you can take some preventative measures. Always wear a helmet when riding a bike, including a motorcycle, and wear protective gear when playing contact sports.