Shaken baby syndrome
(Redirected from Shaken-baby syndrome)
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS), also known as abusive head trauma (AHT), is a serious brain injury resulting from forcefully shaking an infant or toddler. SBS/AHT describes a form of inflicted head trauma. Despite its name, the injury can occur from both shaking alone or from impact, with or without shaking. The violent movement causes the brain to move back and forth within the skull, leading to bruising, swelling, and bleeding of the brain, which can lead to permanent, severe brain damage or death.
Causes[edit | edit source]
The primary mechanism behind SBS is the violent shaking of a child, which can cause the brain to rotate within the skull, leading to cerebral contusions, subdural hematomas, and retinal hemorrhages. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable due to their relatively large head size, weak neck muscles, and fragile brain tissue.
Symptoms and Signs[edit | edit source]
Symptoms of SBS may include extreme irritability, decreased alertness, poor feeding, breathing problems, convulsions, vomiting, and pale or bluish skin. Long-term consequences can range from learning disabilities and physical disabilities to severe brain damage and death. Visual problems such as blindness or retinal detachment can also occur.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Diagnosis of SBS involves a careful history, physical examination, and often neuroimaging studies such as MRI or CT scans. Ophthalmologic examination is also crucial for identifying retinal hemorrhages, which are a hallmark of the syndrome.
Prevention[edit | edit source]
Prevention of SBS is critical and involves educating caregivers about the dangers of shaking a baby. Programs that provide support and education to parents of newborns have been shown to reduce the incidence of SBS.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for SBS is supportive and aims to relieve symptoms and prevent further brain injury. This may include measures to control intracranial pressure, treat seizures, and manage other complications. Rehabilitation services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy may be necessary for long-term management of disabilities.
Legal Aspects[edit | edit source]
SBS is a form of child abuse. Caregivers found guilty of causing SBS face severe legal consequences. Legal definitions and penalties vary by jurisdiction, but all aim to protect children from harm.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD