INFORMATION ON SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

Shaken baby syndrome is a form of inflicted head trauma. Head injury, as a form of child abuse, can be caused by direct blows to the head, dropping or throwing the child, or shaking the child. A baby has weak neck muscles and a large, heavy head. Shaking makes the fragile brain bounce back and forth inside the skull and causes bruising, swelling, and bleeding, which can lead to permanent, severe brain damage or death. Main characteristic injuries of shaken baby syndrome are subdural hemorrhages, retinal hemorrhages, damage to the spinal cord and neck, and fractures of the ribs and bones. Shaken baby syndrome is considered a form of child abuse affecting between 1,200 and 1,600 children every year in the USA.

SYNONYMS OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

Other related keywords:- 1. Battered child syndrome
2. Child abuse
3. Child maltreatment
4. Non-accidental trauma
5. Sexual abuse
6. Shaken baby syndrome
7. Whiplash - shaken infant

CAUSES OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

Causes Shaken Baby Syndrome includes:- 1. Child abuse
2. Infanticide
3. Throwing baby in the air
4. Jogging with a baby in a backpack
5. Non-accidental trauma

SYMPTOMS OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

Symptoms are:- 1. Change in behavior, irritability
2. Lethargy, sleepiness, or loss of consciousness
3. Pale or bluish skin
4. Vomiting
5. Convulsions
6. Poor eating
7. Not breathing
8. Bruising, bleeding or swelling

DIAGNOSIS OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

CT Scans and some other tests are used by a physician to diagnoses Shaken Baby Syndrome. if a child exhibits any of the above signs or symptoms or it you suspect the child has sustained this type of injury. Getting medical care as soon as possible may save the child’s life and prevent devastating complications from developing.

Diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome based on:

1. Bleeding in the back of the eye or retinal detachment
2. Skull fracture
3. Swelling of the brain
4. Bleeding on the surface of the brain
5. The absence of external injuries in a child with severe brain injury
6. Fractured rib, arm or leg bones
7. Bruises on the head, neck or chest

TREATMENT OF SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

Child with shaken baby syndrome requires hospitalization, sometimes in an intensive care unit. Brain swelling or lack of oxygen to the brain is frequent complications that require immediate treatment. Oxygen therapy and/or a ventilator may be used to help the child breathe. The child may be given medication to help reduce swelling in the brain. A cooling mattress that helps to lower the child's body temperature and reduce brain swelling may also be tried. A child who has severe bleeding on the brain may need surgery to drain the fluid. Children with shaken baby syndrome may need physical therapy, speech therapy, vision therapy, and special education services.