Shaking Baby Syndrome

There are typically no witnesses and in 50 – 75 percent of all cases, no prior signs of child abuse. Unfortunately, there is no dependable method for collecting statistics and the true number of incidences is unknown. More importantly, it can be difficult to detect especially for mild cases. This syndrome is the most common reason of death and long-term disability in infants and young children. The disorder primarily takes place in children two years old and younger with the average age between three to eight months

     Fifty Thousand cases occur each year in the U.S. (Ramirez, 1996). One shaken baby in four dies as a result of this abuse (Poissaint & Linn, 1997) Approximately 20 percent of cases are fatal in the first few days after injury and majority of the survivors are left with handicaps ranging from mild to

Child Abuse according to the Children, Young Persons, and their Families Act as “the arming whether physically, passionately, or sexually, mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or denial of any child or young person”.

Pediatric abusive head trauma, also known as shaken baby syndrome, is a devastating form of abuse. It occurs when a young child is violently shaken. The repeated shaking back and forth motion causes the child’s brain to bounce within the skull, resulting in bruising and swelling. This intentionally inflicted injury causes trauma to the head and neck region, including cranial, cerebral, and spinal injuries. It occurs in infants and small children because the muscles of the neck region aren’t strong enough to go against the shaking force that occurs. Some make a complete recovery; others are left with debilitating handicaps, and in some cases death occurs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), states that among all the forms

If a child is being a victim of any sort of abuse, they will not know any different. They have always been told to listen and to respect their adults and elders. Children will always strive for that love and protection feeling that can be provided from an adult. When an adult was sexually abusing a child, the child often did not try put a stop to it. By not resisting these adults whom were doing these things to them, they thought this is the way to get the love and attention feeling that they were searching for.

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is the leading cause of death in abused children. More than 4 out of every 10 of these deaths are seen in children who did not reach their first birthday. Also commonly referred to as abusive head trauma, SBS is the consequence of an infant being violently shaken with resultant neurological damage. This damage causes a sequence of events in the brain, starting with hypoxia, which leads to cerebral edema and an increased intracranial pressure (ICP). The increase in ICP leads to ischemia and a decrease in the cerebral perfusion pressure, which has devastating consequences.

The word prevent implies “to come before” – namely. To take action against what could potentially become a problem. This is often referred to in the field of mental health as primary prevention (Bloom, 1995). The goal of primary prevention programs in child maltreatment is to prevent child abuse from occurring. The enactment of various public policies at the national and state levels relevant to children’s health and welfare may be viewed as primary prevention.

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) approximately kills 306 babies each year in the United States, and causes severe brain injuries to 1000-3000 infants. The term “Shaken Baby Syndrome” (SBS) is often used by doctors and public to describe Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). Shaken Baby Syndrome was coined at the 1970s, yet it is no longer used at many children’s specialized hospitals such as Sydney children’s hospital. Pediatricians more commonly use terms like Abusive head trauma (AHT) or inflicted traumatic brain injury. Although that Shaken Baby syndrome is highly dangerous and common, many people have not heard of it. Therefore, healthcare professionals must warn parents and caregivers about Shaken Baby Syndrome through showing the

Head injuries typically fall under one of two categories based on how the injury was sustained; an injury due to a blow or shaking. Head injuries that fall under the category of occurring by a blow can be sustained by; a motor vehicle accident, a fall, a physical assault, or a sports related injury. Head injuries that are caused by shaking are typically sustained by violent shaking. The types of head injuries that can result from these incidents include; hematoma, hemorrhage, concussion, edema, skull fracture, and diffuse axonal injury.

In the cases of inflicted brain trauma, abuse can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because the baby may not have any external marks, other than bruises on chest and extremities from where the infant was held (Lyden, 2011). Researchers say that retinal hemorrhages in infant’s eyes should be considered as signs of abuse until proven otherwise, although they acknowledge that retinal bleeding in infants can be caused by other conditions, those conditions can be ruled out through history, physical exam, and labs (Lyden, 2011).

There are several modalities that can be used to determine if a child has been abused. There are Radiographic Imaging, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging. All three of these modalities have different capabilities and depending on the injury of the child, it will determine which modality you would use. If a child of 2 years and younger is suspected to have an injury due to abuse then the Radiographer would use Radiographic imaging and take images of the entire body. Radiographers will take multiple images called a skeletal survey to determine child abuse. A skeletal survey includes more than 20 images. “The ACR (The American College of Radiology) uses these guidelines for a skeletal survey; they must include the thorax, ribs, upper lumbar spine, pelvis, cervical spine, lumbar spine, Humerus, Forearms, hands, Femora, lower legs, and feet. Computed Tomography has over powered the conventional x-rays because of its many advantages”. CT gives 3D images of the injury which would show a rib fracture clearer. Head trauma is the most dangerous form of child abuse and causes that most deaths in children. Head trauma can also cause permanent neurologic damage. Retinal hemorrhage and subdural hemorrhage are thought to be caused by abusive head trauma. Children with head trauma are more likely to have dilated eyes and seizures which will cause an unstable mental status.

During infancy, the consistency of the brain tissue is similar to that of custard, making it extremely vulnerable to blows, jars, and other abrupt motions. In SBS and other pediatric brain injuries, several injuries may occur as a result of these motions. Cerebral hemorrhaging is evident in SBS. As blood collects where the brain has been damaged, there is compression or distortion of the remaining structures of the brain, which increases the risk for loss of blood flow to those structures. SBS may also result in brain bruising in multiple areas. These injuries involve speed of the shaking or high impact, which results in the brain bouncing against both sides of the skull, producing multifocal deficits. SBS cases range from mild to extremely

PER REPORTER: Kristy said today after Robin gave birth to baby girl Rybolt the doctors discovered that mom tested positive for both amphetamine and meth amphetamine. However, Kristy said they do not know as of now if the baby is also positive for the drugs. She said they are currently in the process of doing a urine drug screening on the child. Kristy said as of now baby girl has not displayed any signs of being positive for the drugs. She said the baby is not jittery or showing signs of withdrawal; however, she said the signs could start showing up after a few hours. She said the child is currently eating properly and displaying normal behavior. Kristy said both the baby and her mother can be found in room 213, and she said they are not expected

I have gone through your question and understand your concern. From the given details, I consider the baby was born with no complications at birth and is doing good. Let me give you a slight insight to what this shaking could be, the term Jitteriness refers to tremors in newborns. It is the representation of an exaggerated startle response. It is often confused for seizures (also known as convulsion and fits), which naturally unnerves the parents.

Child abuse is any form of physical, psycological, social, emotional or sexual maltreatment* of a child. It could be endangering the survival, the safety, the sefl-esteem, the growth and the development of the child. Child abuse is more than just bruises and broken bones. Not all child abuses are obvious.