Fever is generally not a typical symptom of a concussion. While a concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury with various symptoms, a raised body temperature often indicates a different, potentially more serious, underlying issue. This article clarifies what a concussion is, its common symptoms, what a fever after a head injury might mean, and when to seek urgent medical care.
Understanding Concussions
A concussion is a functional injury to the brain, rather than a structural one that would typically be visible on standard imaging tests like CT scans or MRIs. It occurs when a sudden impact to the head or body causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull, leading to a temporary alteration in brain function. This can disrupt communication between neurons and affect various neurological processes.
Symptoms of a concussion can manifest immediately or develop hours to days after the injury. Common physical symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and sensitivity to light or noise. Cognitive symptoms may involve confusion, difficulty concentrating or remembering, feeling “foggy,” or slowed thinking. Individuals might also experience changes in mood, irritability, or disrupted sleep patterns.
Fever After Head Injury: What It Means
While a concussion might rarely cause a mild, short-term neurogenic fever due to inflammation, a persistent or high fever after a head injury is not typical for a concussion alone and warrants immediate medical evaluation. Such a fever indicates a more serious condition. Neurogenic fever, caused by neurological factors rather than infection, can occur after traumatic brain injury and is associated with poorer outcomes.
One significant concern for fever after a head injury is the possibility of an infection, such as meningitis. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which can be caused by bacterial or viral infections. Early symptoms of meningitis often include fever, headache, and nausea or vomiting, progressing to neck stiffness, confusion, and sensitivity to light. Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency that can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
Fever can also signal a more severe brain injury, such as intracranial bleeding or hematoma. These conditions can cause increased pressure within the skull, potentially affecting the brain’s temperature regulation centers. Fever after traumatic brain injury is strongly associated with poorer outcomes and can lead to secondary brain injury. In some cases, a systemic infection unrelated to the head injury but occurring concurrently could also be the cause of the fever.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care
Given that fever is not a typical concussion symptom, its presence after a head injury is a significant “red flag” requiring urgent medical attention. Any fever following a head injury should prompt a medical evaluation to rule out serious underlying conditions like infection or more severe brain trauma. Other warning signs requiring immediate medical care include a headache that worsens or does not go away, repeated vomiting, or increasing confusion.
Additional serious symptoms include seizures or convulsions, difficulty waking up, or unusual drowsiness. Changes in physical coordination, such as weakness, numbness, slurred speech, or difficulty with balance, also warrant immediate medical attention. If one pupil appears larger than the other, or if clear fluid or blood drains from the nose or ears, seek emergency medical evaluation.