Which of the following are head injury red flags?

Which of the following are head injury red flags?

• A. Pupils equal, round, reactive to light
• B. ALOC, vomiting, unequal pupils, seizures, CSF leak, worsening headache
• C. Central support structure of vertebrae
• D. PERRL

Answer: (B)

After a head injury, certain signs point to potential serious brain injury and require urgent assessment. The best choice lists several red flags: altered level of consciousness, vomiting, unequal pupils, seizures, a CSF leak, and a worsening headache. Each of these signals something concerning about brain function or skull integrity. Altered mental status shows changes in brain activity; vomiting can reflect increased intracranial pressure or concussion effects; unequal pupils can indicate focal pressure or swelling; seizures may follow head trauma; a CSF leak means a skull fracture with dura involvement; a headache that’s getting worse suggests deterioration. The other options describe normal pupil findings or anatomy not specifically about head-injury danger (normal pupil reactions or spinal structures), so they don’t indicate red flags.

After a head injury, certain signs point to potential serious brain injury and require urgent assessment. The best choice lists several red flags: altered level of consciousness, vomiting, unequal pupils, seizures, a CSF leak, and a worsening headache. Each of these signals something concerning about brain function or skull integrity. Altered mental status shows changes in brain activity; vomiting can reflect increased intracranial pressure or concussion effects; unequal pupils can indicate focal pressure or swelling; seizures may follow head trauma; a CSF leak means a skull fracture with dura involvement; a headache that’s getting worse suggests deterioration. The other options describe normal pupil findings or anatomy not specifically about head-injury danger (normal pupil reactions or spinal structures), so they don’t indicate red flags.