The “Fall-Asleep-Syndrome” — A Kind of Secondary Disturbance of Consciousness After Head Injury in Children

Abstract

Secondary clouding or loss of consciousness following a free interval after head injury is usually a sign of dangerous post-traumatic complications, e.g., intracranial hematoma or brain edema. Yet in children after head injury, a benign state may occur which is also characterized by an alteration in consciousness. A child injured in the head who is not unconscious after the trauma even for a short time becomes increasingly tired and drowsy and falls asleep. The child can be awakened only by strong stimuli and only for a short time. Most often, one cannot establish contact with the child; he cries or turns away from the examiner. According to MEALEY (2), this state occurs often and is common enough to be considered a special post-traumatic syndrome.