CATCH Rule for Paediatric Head Injury
Canadian Assessment of Tomography for Childhood Head Injury (CATCH) rule. Identifies children at risk for brain injury requiring CT head after minor head injury.
Score interpretation
→ High-risk factors present: CT head required. High-risk factors: GCS <15 at 2h, suspected skull fracture, worsening headache, or irritability. Urgent CT head and paediatric surgical/neurosurgical review.
→ Medium-risk factor present (predicts brain injury on CT): the CATCH rule indicates CT head. Factors: any sign of basal skull fracture, large boggy scalp haematoma, dangerous mechanism.
→ CATCH does not indicate CT. The rule applies only to children 0–16 years with blunt minor head injury (GCS 13–15) and witnessed loss of consciousness, definite amnesia, witnessed disorientation, persistent vomiting or persistent irritability (under 2 years). UK practice follows NICE NG232. Discharge with head injury advice if there is no other concern.
Interpretation bands for the CATCH Rule. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- Ibuprofen (Paediatric) · NSAID / Analgesic / Antipyretic
- Paracetamol (Paediatric) · Analgesic / Antipyretic — First-Line Pain and Fever in Children
- Morphine (Paediatric) · Opioid Analgesic — Moderate to Severe Pain in Children
- Gentamicin (Paediatric) · Aminoglycoside — Neonatal Sepsis / Gram-Negative Infections in Children
- Vancomycin (Paediatric) · Glycopeptide Antibiotic — MRSA / Severe Gram-Positive Infections in Children
- Iron Supplementation (Paediatric) · Iron Supplement — Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Children
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.