Shaken baby syndrome
Shaken baby syndrome (pronounced: /ˈʃeɪkən ˈbeɪbi ˈsɪndroʊm/), also known as abusive head trauma (AHT), is a severe form of physical child abuse resulting from violently shaking an infant or child.
Etymology
The term "shaken baby syndrome" has been used since the 1980s. It is derived from the medical findings of internal head injuries without signs of external trauma.
Definition
Shaken baby syndrome is a serious brain injury resulting from forcefully shaking an infant or toddler. It destroys a child's brain cells and prevents his or her brain from getting enough oxygen. Shaken baby syndrome is a form of child abuse that can result in permanent brain damage or death.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include irritability, difficulty staying awake, seizures, lack of appetite, tremors, vomiting, and changes in behavior or performance. More severe forms can result in unconsciousness, blindness, hearing loss, paralysis, and death.
Causes
Shaken baby syndrome usually occurs when a parent or caregiver severely shakes a baby or toddler due to frustration or anger, often because the child won't stop crying. It is not caused by bouncing a child on a knee, minor falls, or even a ride on a shoulder.
Prevention
Prevention of shaken baby syndrome involves educating parents and caregivers about the dangers of shaking and providing strategies to soothe a crying baby and manage stress.
Treatment
Treatment for shaken baby syndrome includes immediate emergency care and ongoing medical treatment such as surgery to stop bleeding in the brain and relieve pressure.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Shaken baby syndrome
- Wikipedia's article - Shaken baby syndrome
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski