Children often participate in activities that could lead to internal abdominal injuries. Recognizing these injuries is not easy for professionals, leave alone the parents. That’s because the signs of injury often take time before they become apparent. As a parent, you are going to stay in close proximity to the child, which necessitates that you learn how to pinpoint issues involving possible internal injuries.
If abdominal injuries are not recognized and dealt with in a timely manner, they could result in some serious complications. What most professionals do is to prescribe a treatment and then ask you (the parent) to monitor any change in vital signs. Once a professional has assessed the symptoms, he or she will be able to properly manage the injuries.
Abdominal injuries can vary from the least severe to the most serious problem. They can present with symptoms such as internal bleeding and strain to the abdomen. In most cases, severe abdominal injuries are painful.
That’s why, as a parent, you need a good understanding of the signs, symptoms, possible risks to know the action to take. Additionally, a good understanding of common injury mechanisms can make a difference between calling for emergency evacuation and attempting first aid. Due to the fact that abdominal injuries are dangerous, parents need patience.
Types of Internal Injuries
Due to the complexity of the anatomy involved, abdominal injuries are of different types. They could vary from herniations, puncture wounds, lacerations, and contusions. The following are the most common types:
1. Blow to the Solar Plexus
When hit in the solar plexus, one experiences momentary diaphragm paralysis. You feel like you have just be knocked out by the wind. Young ones can get this kind of injury when they are hit in the stomach with a hard object, helmet or shoulder. In most cases, the injury passes without intervention. The most obvious sign is a child having shortness of breath.
2. Hernias
When intestines protrude through abdominal walls, it is called hernia. It may occur in the inguinal canal or femoral ring. Both cases involve the intestines protruding outside the body. If not addressed quickly, this could result in intestine strangulation or tissue necrosis. As a parent, take the child to a professional as quickly as possible.
3. Injury to Abdominal Muscles
Given that abdominal muscles play the role of supporting the abdomen, they are prone to several types of injuries. The first type of injury to these muscles is a strain owing to the fact that these muscles help to maintain stability and balance to the rest of the body. You can treat this kind of injury by having the child sleep adequately, stretch & strengthen the muscles, and take anti-inflammatory medications. Luckily the soft nature of abdominal muscles ensures they can resist serious injuries.
4. Damage to the Underlying Organs
Injury to underlying organs is the most dangerous of internal abdominal injuries. It results when the abdomen suffers blunt trauma, resulting in organ failure, and internal bleeding resulting in death. Check for signs of a penetrating abdominal injury, since this is a clear indication that an internal organ could have been damaged. The best you can do it take good care of the wound and take the child to a doctor as soon as possible.
Signs of an injured internal organ include abdominal splinting, muscle guarding, and mild tenderness. The thing about internal organs is that they can bleed for weeks before they begin to fail. Intermittent pain could also be a sign of a damaged internal organ. For example, left flank pain that comes and goes could indicate damage to the kidney. Depending on where the pain is, you could be dealing with bladder rupture, liver damage or splenic rupture.
If there has been damage to the kidneys, make sure you don’t feed your child any uric acid foods.
When you notice signs such as vomiting, poor appetite, blood in urine, abdominal swelling, worsening abdominal pain or swelling, and fever of 38 C (100.4 F) take your child to the emergency. Call 911 if the child begins to vomit blood and develops dizziness, weakness, and fainting. Signs of shock such as listlessness, rapid shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, cold skin, and bluish coloring should never be ignored.
Conclusion
No matter how mild it is, internal abdominal injuries should never be ignored. Timely presentation of your child to a professional doctor would ensure that the situation does not get out of hand. Any signs of deterioration should be treated as an emergency.
Author Bio:
Ross is a blogger who loves to write especially in the kids Vertical vertical. He has written many informative Blogs such as personal development, gifting etc. Ross loves to travel and explore new things in his life.
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