Children and adults who suffer a head injury should be taken straight to a hospital with resuscitation facilities to avoid potentially serious complications, including disability or death, says NICE.
In an update to existing guidelines, NICE stresses the importance of early detection and prompt treatment for head injuries. Patients who have suffered a head injury but also begin to show particular signs that the injury may be serious or potentially life-threatening, such as seizures, fracture skull or loss of consciousness, should be given a CT brain scan within one hour.