Head injury can be defined as any alteration in mental or physical functioning related to a blow to the head or trauma to the head from various accidents such as road traffic accident, fall from height, physical assault, athletic injury etc. The severity of head injuries is most commonly classified by the initial post-resuscitation. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, which generates a neumerical summed score for age, motor, and verbal abilities. Concussion and mild head injury are generally synonymous.
Traditionally a score of 8 or less indicates severe injury. Signs and symptoms of head injuries vary with the type and severity of the injury. Minor blunt head injuries may involve only symptoms of being dazed or brief loss of consciousness. They may result in headaches or blurring of vision or nausea and vomiting. Severe blunt head trauma involves a loss of consciousness lasting from several minutes to many days or longer. Seizures may result. The person may suffer from severe and sometimes permanent neurological deficits or may die. These deficits resemble those seen in stroke.
Penetrating trauma may cause immediate, severe symptoms or only minor symptoms despite a potentially life threatening injury. Death may follow from initial injury.
Prevention of head injury include wearing of helmets, when bike riding, inline skating, driving motor cycle, working in mines, mills and factories where mechanical pullies, trolles etc are used and where working on ladders, etc.