SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME

Overview and Facts

Shaken baby syndrome is an abusive shaken impact and head trauma that results to a more serious brain damage from shaking an infant or toddler with force. It destroys the brain cells of a baby and it prevents his or her brain from getting sufficient amounts of oxygen. Shaken baby syndrome is a form of child abuse that can cause lifetime brain injury and even death.

This could be prevented with proper education and guidance. You can also ask mothers and caregivers to avoid doing this to their child to avoid its dangers.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of shaken baby syndrome include:

  • Breathing problems
  • Bruised face
  • Coma
  • Difficulty staying awake
  • Extreme fussiness or irritability
  • Pale or bluish skin
  • Paralysis
  • Poor eating
  • Seizures
  • Vomiting

There are also invisible signs of S=shaken baby syndrome and could not immediately seen by our naked eyes. These include:

  • Bleeding in the brain and eyes
  • Spinal cord damage
  • Fractures of the ribs, skull, legs and other bones

Future behavioral and health problems may also develop over time for mild cases of shaken baby syndrome.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

Medical specialists as well as child abuse experts will do a thorough examination to diagnose and examine a child that has been forcefully shaken.

Various tests will be done to detect fractures or injuries. These include:

  • Skeletal survey.To determine if fractures are accidental or purposeful
  • Eye exam.This test can reveal bleeding and other eye injuries
  • Blood tests.This test can rule out the underlying conditions
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).This test can help doctors obtain detailed images of a child’s brain
  • Computerized tomography (CT) scan.This can help detect injuries and damages that need urgent treatment

Some infant and toddlers with severe damage and injury need to be placed in pediatric intensive care units to monitor their conditions.

TREATMENT

Breathing support and brain surgery are the available emergency medical treatments to stop brain bleeding in children with severe shaken baby syndrome.

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