ASTROMEDICS Health Library · Updated 28 October 2026
General patient education, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan. A qualified clinician should assess your symptoms and advise you.
Symptoms after a head injury
The effects of a head injury may not be obvious immediately. The injury circumstances, new symptoms and medicines such as blood thinners all help clinicians decide what assessment is needed.
Many head injuries are not serious, but symptoms after injury still merit careful attention.
Emergency warning signs include being knocked out and not waking, seizure, new weakness/numbness, problems walking/speaking, or clear fluid/blood from ears or nose.
When urgent assessment is needed
Vomiting, dizziness, blood-thinning conditions/medicines or other concerning symptoms need urgent advice.
For an infant, a head injury with swelling, bruising or a large cut is an emergency warning sign.
Preparing for the next step
Tell the clinician how the injury occurred, whether there was loss of consciousness and whether symptoms are changing. Follow the observation and return-to-activity instructions you are given. Do not leave a person with concerning symptoms to manage alone or use a symptom list to dismiss an injury.
Questions for your consultation
- Does this injury need observation or further tests?
- When is it safe to return to work, school or sport?