Therapy
The treatment of a bump on the head depends on the cause. Since most bumps are caused by an injury to the head, for example in the course of a fall, the therapy consists of physical rest and occasional cooling of the bump. Lying flat should be avoided so that the swelling can be reduced as much as possible.
If the bump is very painful, an anti-inflammatory painkiller can be taken for a few days to relieve the pain. For other causes on the head, often no special therapy is necessary. For example, if the lymph nodes at the back of the head become enlarged as part of a cold infection, the patient should wait until the infection has subsided, as they usually disappear on their own.
Bumps with harmless causes that do not cause any complaints, such as a benign fat tissue nodule (lipoma), also do not necessarily need to be treated. If the bulge is caused by an encapsulated purulent inflammation of a hair root, treatment is indicated. As a rule, this so-called abscess should be opened under sterile conditions by a small puncture or incision so that the pus can drain away.
Healing time
How long a bump on the head lasts depends on the cause. The bumps, which in most cases are caused by a blunt head injury, usually remain for a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size and extent of the injury. In the course of this they should become smaller and smaller and eventually disappear completely.
Other causes of bumps on the head can also persist for longer and may even remain forever, provided that they are not removed. Lymph node swellings, which for example arise in the context of a cold infection and can be responsible for a bump on the back of the head, sometimes persist for over four weeks. In some cases they do not disappear completely, but remain for a long time.
Likewise, bumps originating from fatty tissue do not usually disappear by themselves. Not every bump on the head needs to be examined by a doctor. However, if the bump remains unchanged over several weeks or becomes steadily larger, a medical examination is recommended.
When should you take your baby or toddler to the doctor?
A bump on a baby’s head that has not yet been cleared up should always be examined by a doctor as soon as possible. In particular, if the bump is the result of an injury, such as a fall from a changing table, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Small children can quickly bump their head when playing or crawling, which often results in a bump.
If the injury is only minor and the bumps are small, it is not always necessary to see a doctor. However, in the case of a severe injury, a very large bump or if the bump is constantly increasing, a prompt examination should take place. A doctor must also be consulted if the child shows abnormalities such as
- Disturbances of consciousness,
- Listlessness,
- Vomit or
- High fever
