Shaken baby syndrome is a condition that occurs when a person shakes a baby or a child violently. It is a form of abuse, and knowing how to prevent and avoid shaken baby syndrome is important for parents to know.
Medically reviewed by Ruben Macapinlac, MD, DPPS · Pediatrics · Philippine Pediatric Society
Shaken baby syndrome is a condition that occurs when a person shakes a baby or a child violently. It is a form of abuse, and knowing how to prevent and avoid shaken baby syndrome is important for parents to know.
Shaken baby syndrome happens when an adult picks up a baby and shakes them vigorously.
The injuries that babies suffer are potentially more serious because their necks are not strong enough to support the weight of their head.
As a result, the head starts to move violently, causing injury.
As the child is being shaken, the brain hits the inside of the skull.
When this happens, the brain gets damaged and can cause the following problems:
Injuries to the child’s neck, ribs, and collarbone are possible as well.
All of these things can result in severe injury, long-term disability, or even death to a child.
Knowing how to avoid shaken baby syndrome is crucial information that parents and caregivers need to know.
Children who suffered from shaken baby syndrome usually suffer from its long-term effects.
Here are some of the possible problems that they might have:
Because of the damage caused by shaking to the brain, some children develop seizures as a long-term problem. They might suffer from uncontrollable muscle movement, and could find it hard to see, or speak normally.
Cerebral palsy can be defined as a group of nonprogressive dysfunction of motor movement, posture, and limitation of functional movement. This happens if the child’s brain has been injured, and they are unable to move their muscles normally.
This can also cause muscle weakness due to the lack of movement and exercise in some muscles.
Shaken baby syndrome can cause injury in the nerves connected to the eyes, or the part of the brain responsible for sight. As a result, this can cause difficulty seeing, or even blindness.
Shaken baby syndrome can also cause learning disabilities in children. Parents usually don’t discover these problems until their child has already started school.
Intellectual disabilities are also common because of extensive damage to the brain. This can cause problems like delayed development, or below average intelligence.
In some cases, the child might need special care even as an adult, because they are unable to properly take care of themselves.
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Damage to the spine or brain stem can also result in partial or full paralysis in some children.
It is also possible for shaken baby syndrome to cause behavioral problems in children. This can make it difficult for parents to handle their child, and can cause children to act out, or even behave in a violent manner.
Here are some of the symptoms of shaken baby syndrome to watch out for:
Any combination of these symptoms could mean that the baby was shaken and has suffered serious injury as a result.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your baby, immediately take them to the hospital. It is important for doctors to treat the baby immediately in order to prevent more serious complications.
Knowing how to avoid shaken baby syndrome is an important thing that parents should know. And more often than not, shaken baby syndrome results from anger or frustration from a parent or caregiver.
Here are some things that parents can do in order to help avoid this from happening:
By following the tips above, you can help ensure that your little one will always be safe and healthy.
Learn more about Parenting and Child Health here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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