Does a fall cause brain and IQ damage in a baby?

Question

Hi doctor,

My daughter of 6 months old had a fall yesterday from 20 inches height. She had a hit on the backside of her head. She cried loudly and I immediately applied lot of water on the backside of her head. She became fine within a minute and she is totally fine now. Will it affect her intelligence or IQ level? My mother says that if head of the baby gets hit at early stage it can cause brain damage or may affect intelligence level. Please explain. Should I check her IQ once she is little grown up like 5 or 6 years of age?

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Fall from height does cause injury, a known fact.
Human body has protective mechanisms against such accidents. One is bony skull, which prevents force to hit brain inside. It is not that effective in children. Next is fluid inside the skull surrounding brain does prevent from force of injury in children.
Coming to damage of IQ (intelligence quotient), one cannot predict how much the child has affected.
Few points which may say child is fine are as follows.

a. Child is active and feeding well.

b. Child is involving in surrounding things and growth that is milestones are achieved according to age.

c. Children at each age have to develop particular milestones. If such things are occur normally then you need not worry and no need to check IQ.

If you find anywhere that child is not achieving milestones normally, please get check up with pediatric doctor and no need to wait till 5 or 6 years of age.