Signs of Shaken Baby Syndrome Signs and symptoms of shaken baby syndrome can vary depending on the extremity, but can include: Extreme fussiness and irritability from your baby. Altered levels of consciousness. Drowsiness or difficulty staying awake accompanied by fussiness.
A child or baby who's been shaken may have an injury to their brain. Severe immediate signs of shaken baby syndrome may include unconsciousness, seizures and shock.
Shaking injuries are not caused by casual or accidental handling of children. Shaking injuries require massive, violent force. One shake is all it takes to cause traumatic brain injuries in an infant.
Shaken baby syndrome does not result from gentle bouncing, playful swinging or tossing the child in the air, or jogging with the child. It also is very unlikely to occur from accidents such as falling off chairs or down stairs, or accidentally being dropped from a caregiver's arms.
International studies show that one in three cases of abusive brain injury go undetected for days, or are never identified by hospital staff, because the symptoms - such as lethargy, seizures and breathing problems - mimic a range of possible conditions.
Symptoms vary and are caused by generalized brain swelling secondary to trauma. They may appear immediately after the shaking and usually reach a peak within 4-6 hours.
SBS is a form of child abuse that occurs when an adult or older child violently shakes a baby or young child. It only takes a few seconds of violent shaking to cause permanent damage.
Doctors can use imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) to diagnose the disorder. Treatment must be given quickly and some children may need surgery to stop bleeding in the body or machines to help them breathe.
No. Young infants should have their head supported at all times and caregivers should avoid jostling them or throwing them in the air, but gentle bouncing, swinging or rocking won't cause shaken baby syndrome.
Even brief shaking of an infant can cause irreversible brain damage. Many children affected by shaken baby syndrome die. Survivors of shaken baby syndrome may require lifelong medical care for conditions such as: Partial or total blindness.
And don't fret if your newborn's noggin flops back and forth a little bit while you're trying to perfect your move — it won't hurt him. (Of course, never shake your baby because that can cause serious harm.)
Nerve Injury Symptoms
It is most common in babies with high birth weight or in the breech position. The symptoms of a brachial plexus injury include any degree of paralysis in one arm. If a baby is not moving one arm as much as the other it is usually a sign of Erb's palsy or damaged brachial plexus nerves.
What should I do if I suspect a baby has been shaken? Call 911 immediately! Emergency medical care could prevent permanent brain damage, or even save the baby's life.
Experts interviewed about the gender discrepancy point to more than one cause for why so many more men than women are accused of shaken-baby syndrome crimes. While there is no clear consensus on the causes, some experts posit that men are not as socialized as women in how to care for infants.
Ninety percent of SIDS deaths occur within the first 6 months of life, with the rate peaking between 1 to 4 months. Death comes suddenly and unpredictably, usually during sleep. In most cases, the baby seems healthy before death.
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a preventable, severe form of physical child abuse resulting from violently shaking an infant by the shoulders, arms, or legs. SBS may result from both shaking alone or from shaking with impact.
Remember the 10-foot rule.
When you are very frustrated or angry, make sure the baby is in a safe place and then stay 10 feet away from the baby until you have calmed down. Parents report that this simple rule has changed their lives and kept their children safe.
One in four children who is shaken dies from their injuries. Of babies who survive, approximately 80 percent suffer from some sort of permanent damage. It is estimated that 1,000-3,000 children in the United States are shaken each year, but it is likely that many cases go unreported or undiagnosed.
Abusive Head Trauma/Shaken Baby Syndrome:
AHT is 100 percent preventable. AHT can be caused by shaking alone or from an injury that results in a whiplash motion that may cause bleeding inside the brain or eyes. Even a few seconds of violent shaking can cause serious injuries.
An eye exam can reveal bleeding in the eye and other eye injuries. Blood tests. Some metabolic and genetic disorders, as well as bleeding and clotting disorders, can cause symptoms similar to shaken baby syndrome. Blood tests can help rule out some of these conditions.
A doctor who is not aware that a child has been shaken may assume the baby is vomiting or having trouble breathing because of an illness. Mild symptoms of SBS are similar to symptoms of infant colic, feeding problems and fussiness.
Jiggling your baby in your arms or gently tossing him or her into the air will not result in Shaken Baby Syndrome. For it to occur, there must be a deliberate and forceful back-and-forth motion. Bumpy stroller rides or a game of airplane are safe for your baby.
Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can feel as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. You may be very sensitive to touch or cold. You may also experience pain as a result of touch that would not normally be painful, such as something lightly brushing your skin.