Shaken Baby Syndrome (cont.)
What causes shaken baby syndrome?
Infants have very weak neck muscles and large and heavy heads in proportion to
their bodies. In addition, because the infant brain is immature and needs room
to grow, there is naturally a virtual space between the skull and brain to allow
for development. Violently shaking an infant can cause the brain to move within
the skull, resulting in cerebral contusions (bruising of brain tissue) and
shearing (tearing) of blood vessels. Most commonly, the injuries associated with
shaken baby syndrome include bleeding around the brain (subdural and
subarachnoid hemorrhages), bleeding in the eyes (retinal hemorrhages), and
spinal cord or neck injuries. Often infants will also have evidence of other
non-accidental injuries, including unexplained bruises, rib fractures, or
extremity fractures.
What are the symptoms and signs of shaken baby syndrome?
The injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome may
not be immediately noticeable. Infants may present with nonspecific complaints,
such as irritability or vomiting. These symptoms are caused by the developing
increased pressure within the brain (intracranial pressure) caused by brain
hemorrhages and swelling. These infants often develop additional symptoms, such
as lethargy, breathing difficulties, and seizures.
What are the treatments for shaken baby syndrome?
Infants with injuries of shaken baby syndrome require emergency care, including
respiratory support and surgery. Often these infants require draining of the
blood around the brain to decrease the ongoing brain injuries associated with
brain swelling. Additional treatments may be required as well, including
obtaining ophthalmologic and neurological evaluations.
Next: What is the prognosis for shaken baby syndrome? »
- Nausea and Vomiting - Nausea and vomiting symptoms of many conditions including motion sickness, pregnancy, emotional stress, gallbladder disease, and more. Learn how to recognize the warning signs of nausea and vomiting on MedicineNet.com
- Fracture - Read about fracture of bone(s). The most common fractures are stress fractures, rib fractures, skull fractures, and fractures in children. Causes vary and treatment is dependant upon the type of fracture.
- Bumps and Bruises - Learn the causes, symptoms, treatment of bumps and bruises (contusions, ecchymoses) and how long it takes for a bruise to go away and why some people bruise easily.
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