Shaken baby syndrome has several signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms of shaken baby syndrome It only takes seconds of shaking to cause irreversible brain damage in an infant. The bleeding around the brain may lead to blood pooling within the skull, causing swelling, increased pressure and further damage to the brain. This trauma results in ripping and tearing of blood vessels in the brain and eyes. The forceful motion of the head hitting an object or snapping back and forth causes the fragile and immature brain of the child to slam against the skull. In addition, the blood vessels surrounding the brains of infants and children under the age of five are more susceptible to tearing than those of older children and adults. Babies' heads are large and heavy relative to their bodies, and their neck muscles are weak. A baby's head makes up approximately 25 percent of his/her total body weight.
Shaken baby syndrome occurs when an infant or small child is shaken forcefully and/or if the head is hit hard against an object such as a mattress, floor or wall. One fourth to one third of these victims will die the rest will suffer lifelong complications. However, more than half of the children abused are 6 months of age or younger. The average age of the child affected by the syndrome is between 3 and 8 months. Shaken baby syndrome is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the United States.Įach year, at least three children in Arizona will die from injuries related to shaken baby syndrome. Shaken baby syndrome is a form of child abuse and the consequence of an assault, not the result of active play or clumsy handling. Shaken baby syndrome is the collection of signs and symptoms resulting from the violent shaking of an infant or small child.
0 kommentar(er)
