Shaken Baby Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
A large part of the population has the desire to have children. Being a father or mother is a dream for many, for whom the idea of raising, educating, giving affection and ultimately helping a fragile and vulnerable being to grow and see the world is exciting and motivating. Most people experience the will to protect children.
However, some parents mistreat their children by carrying out actions such as shaking them violently when they cry continuously in order to make them silence them. This type of abuse can cause severe brain damage in an organism as fragile as that of a baby. This is what happens in cases of shaken baby syndrome
The set of shaken baby syndrome is called Symptoms presented by babies who have been shaken (generally caused by the actions of an adult) without there being external trauma, these symptoms being the result of an intracranial injury resulting from having been violently shaken.
The shaking has the consequence of generating a brain injury that can be very severe and is capable of causing the death of the baby (in fact it is one of the most frequent causes of infant mortality), or sequelae of considerable severity. This syndrome tends to appear in babies under three years of age.
Yes ok injuries can be variable, it is generally considered that there are three that occur in the majority of cases of this syndrome and that allow its diagnosis: retinal hemorrhage, encephalopathy or brain damage (such as diffuse axonal damage) and subdural hematoma. Hydrocephalus is also common.
The symptoms of these injuries can be very different depending on the areas that are damaged, but usually presents with diffuse axonal damage It is common for the baby to begin to suffer epileptic seizures, lethargy, hypotonia or loss of muscle tone, anorexia, vomiting or breathing problems. In addition, they can cause serious long-term consequences.
Sequelae and symptoms
In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, damage caused to the brain usually generates serious and permanent consequences.
Among these sequels, the appearance of intellectual disability of variable severity It is not unusual for cerebral palsy to appear. Sometimes symptoms similar to autism, developmental delays and language inability can also be observed.
Also infections can arise that cause inflammation of the brain and worsen the child’s condition. Likewise, it is not uncommon for sensory disabilities such as acquired blindness or deafness to also appear.
How is it produced?
The most common reason for the appearance of shaken baby syndrome, the cause of shaking, is usually the presence of crying on the part of the baby that one or more adults try to stop with violence. This is usually unplanned abuse In others it is carried out voluntarily and intentionally.
However, sometimes it has also been seen in some cases where attempts are being made to resuscitate a baby who has stopped breathing, in car accidents (for example, whiplash even if the child is wearing a seat belt) and even in some disorders, similar symptoms may appear without the need for shaking (although the latter are detectable). That is why it should not be assumed that they are necessarily the product of mistreatment.
The shocks cause the brain mass moves violently and impacts against the walls of the skull as well as damage to the spinal nerves as the child’s neck is not strong enough to resist the acceleration.
Likewise, it is considered that problems and injuries also arise due to the presence of hypoxia or a decrease in oxygen that reaches the brain regions during the shake due to the respiratory alterations caused during it and damage to the brain stem.
Treatment of this syndrome
The neuronal death caused by shaken baby syndrome does not present a curative treatment. Over time, some of the symptoms may decrease and in some cases a recovery is possible, but the overall prognosis is not very positive However, a quick intervention can both save the child’s life and reduce possible consequences.
It is important to drain extravasated blood in internal bleeding, as well as excessive cerebrospinal fluid if hydrocephalus appears. Also It is essential to reduce intracranial pressure This may result in less waterlogged or compressed tissue.
Likewise, occupational therapy and other types of strategies can be helpful so that affected children can recover functions, be stimulated or learn different things. strategies that can improve your autonomy and quality of life
Prevention mechanisms
One of the main methods to stop the appearance of this syndrome is the establishment of preventive measures. In many cases, parents shake the baby because they do not know what causes the baby to cry and they do not know how to make the baby stop.
Prevention should be done through social awareness and information about the effects (although it may seem surprising, many people do not know the damage that a shake can cause to a baby).
Try to educate through different programs such as the Period of Purple Crying offered by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome can mean that when a baby cries, their caregivers are able to establish different strategies such as lulling them, taking them for a walk or playing white noise to calm them down while learning to manage the adult’s own stress. .
Obviously, in the event that the abuse has been voluntary with the purpose of causing harm (such as as a result of vicarious violence), legal measures must be imposed, such as removing the individual from the baby.
