Bruises ares a hallmark of childhood. They speak to an adventurous life, full of mistakes and the type of resilience only children possess. They’re an expected and arguably necessary part of life. So parents don’t have to take them too seriously … until you do.
One former paramedic is sharing the types of bruises that should never be ignored because they require immediate medical attention.
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The bruise typically shows up behind the ear, no matter where the initial injury took place.
In an Instagram post that has since gone viral, Tiny Hearts Education shared the type of bruise parents should pay special attention to. This bruise is very dark in color and typically shows up behind a child’s ear after some type of head injury. It’s called a battle sign.
Unlike other red bruises, this one looks intense. And for good reason — this type of bruising can be a sign of a potential skull fracture.
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The post made several Instagram users reflect on their children's past injuries.
The post advises that children with this type of bruising should be taken to a doctor to be evaluated immediately. The information was well received, even though it's something many parents had not heard before.
“I never knew this,” one Instagram user wrote in response. “My son hit his head not long ago and the first thing the nurse on call told me was to check his ears.”
The information caused another parent to reflect on past injuries. “My 6 year old had bruising like this after a fall at school in March,” the parent wrote. “She kept complaining that her ear was sore so I thought it was just that she hurt her ear. Now I feel horrible.”
Battle sign can sometimes be accompanied by other symptoms.
Battle sign can occur days after the initial injury and appears on the backside of the ear and may even extend as far down as the neck, according to Healthline.com. Occasionally, the bruising is accompanied by raccoon eyes, where the area around both eyes looks bruised. There may also be clear fluid draining from the ears and nose.
Unlike other bruises, battle sign doesn’t fade with the other symptoms. This type of bruising can indicate a skull fracture at the base of the skull, behind the ears, in the nasal cavity, or on a part of the spine.
It may take weeks before this type of injury heals.
If your doctor suspects a skull fracture, they’ll likely conduct a CT scan to look at the child's skull and brain. They may also do an EEG to measure brain activity or schedule an MRI to view brain images.
Treatment depends on the severity of the skull fracture. In more serious cases, surgery and extended hospital stays may be needed to prevent neurological damage. Ultimately, the skull fracture heals itself, although it may take several weeks before all symptoms subside.
*Disclaimer: The advice on Cafemom is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
