Verified By Apollo Hospitals October 1, 2024
The shaken baby syndrome is a severe brain injury caused by forceful shaking of a toddler or infant that damages the infant’s brain cells preventing the child’s brain from receiving adequate oxygen. The shaken baby syndrome is medical negligence or abuse that may result in permanent damage to the brain or even lead to death.
The shaken baby syndrome is also referred to as shaken impact syndrome, whiplash shake syndrome, inflicted head injury, or abusive head trauma. It is usually caused due to reckless handling of a baby by either the parents or the medical practitioners that lead to severe brain damage. However, it is preventable by educating parents and caregivers about the dangers of handling toddlers forcefully or carelessly.
Since shaken baby syndrome damages the brain, outer injuries do not get seen. However, you can identify the condition through these symptoms:
Sometimes, brain damage may show its repercussions on the outer body, too, such as:
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Newborn babies have underdeveloped neck bones and muscles. That’s why they often feel the burden of their heavy heads on their necks and can’t support them properly for 6-8months.
In this case, if the baby is handled recklessly or shaken forcefully, their weak brain inside moves to and fro repeatedly that may cause swelling, bruising, or even bleeding since the organs are already fragile, tender, and underdeveloped. Gentle bouncing of the baby on parents’ knees is considered okay, but anything more should get strictly avoided.
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The following things may make either parents or caregivers to more posibbly shake a baby forcefully and cause shaken baby syndrome:
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Most of the time, babies affected by shaken baby syndrome do not survive. Even if they survive, they undergo the following complications and have to receive the treatment for same for the rest of their lives:
No. Treatments are not available, but a few immediate interventions mentioned below can mitigate the severe repercussions.
Prevention is better than cure, since there is no treatment for brain damage in babies. Careful handling, avoiding repeated and forceful shaking of the baby can prevent the shaken baby syndrome. If you suspect any child abuse or the baby is crying continuously, it is better to consult a doctor immediately.
Vomitings, convulsions, or seizures are the immediate consequences one should check. If you observe even any one of these, rush to the doctor immediately.
Yes, you can slowly and gently shake, toss in the air, bounce the baby in the air. But, still, be careful while you do so. Don’t do it aggressively or frustratedly , as that hurts the baby.
Yes. The health conditions like Menkes disorders, metabolic disorders, or other genetic disorders commonly get mistaken for shaken baby syndrome.
Babies are fragile and should get handled with utmost care. Although bathing the baby with moderate water flow is considered unharmful, heavy shower flow directly on the head can cause injuries inside the head.
Yes. Not every type of shaking causes shaken baby syndrome. Gentle and tender handling is considered unharmful.
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