Identify Circumstances When Children and Young People Might Require Urgent Medical Attention

Andrea Scott
Identify circumstances when children and young people might require urgent medical attention.

- Bone fractures
A broken bone may occur in an accident or a fall. The symptoms of a fracture may include pain, swelling, bruising, deformity or inability to use the limb.
- Seizures
A seizure occurs when sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain interfere with the normal brain activity. Seizures can involve loss of consciousness, a range of unusual movement, convulsions, odd feelings and sensations, or changed behavours.
- Concussion
Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that follows some trauma to the head, such as a hard blow from a fall, knock or assault. Symptoms are - unconsciousness, unusually drowsy, vomiting, loss of coordination, headaches, disorientated.
- Head injuries
Head injuries can be serious, sometimes fatal and require urgent medical attention. A hard blow to the head can injure the brain. Symptoms of serious head injury may include wounds, loss of consciousness, clear fluid leaking from the eyes or nose, black eyes or bruises behind the ears, vision changes, nausea and vomiting.
- Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction which can cause immediate and life threatening syptoms such as breathing difficulties. Other symptoms may include facial swelling, swollen tongue and throat, reddening of skin across the body, hives (red welts) on the skin, abdominal pain, vomiting, unconsciousness and young children may become floppy.
- Asthma Attack
During an asthma attack the airways narrow, reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs. This may lead to wheezing and coughing, a tight feeling in the chest, shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing which can quickly become life threatening.
- Poisoning
Poison may be swallowed, spilt on the skin, sprayed or splashed in the eye, or inhaled. Common poisons include: medicines, cleaning products, gardening products, car maintenance...