|
Shaking a baby can disable -- or even kill
October 31, 1997
Web posted at: 10:15 p.m. EST (0315 GMT)From Medical Correspondent Dr. Steve Salvatore
(CNN) -- Until the trial of British au pair Louise Woodward, many people had probably never heard of the term "shaken baby syndrome." But its results can be devastating.
Shaken baby syndrome was first described in the 1970s and refers to a series of injuries that can occur when an infant or young child is violently shaken or thrown forcibly down onto a mattress or other firm surface.
The severity of the injury often depends on the forces generated during the event.
Shaken baby syndrome
Many times, there are no signs of external injury at all, and the diagnosis can easily be missed. Other times, the diagnosis may be more obvious.
There are three indicators that a child has been subjected to this type of violence:
- subdural hematoma, or bleeding inside the head
- cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain
- retinal hemorrhages, or bleeding behind the retina of the eye
All three need not be present to make the diagnosis.
Other injuries often found with shaken baby syndrome include bruising, broken bones, finger marks around the shoulders and chest, broken ribs, a broken neck or skull fractures.
Shaking a child violently can lead to serious disability -- brain damage, blindness, paralysis and seizures -- and even death.
How does such a thing happen? Generally, it is not a premeditated occurrence. This form of child abuse often occurs when caregivers who are inadequately prepared for parenting become enraged and suddenly lose control.
They then violently shake the child, and, because a baby has a relatively large head and weak neck muscles, he or she is prone to these injuries.
Experts say the best way to prevent shaken baby syndrome is through education. They recommend that caregivers never touch a child in anger.
They also say parents need to have a plan in advance on how they will deal with a crying baby.
Related stories:
- Murder verdict sparks outrage - October 31, 1997
- Life sentence for au pair - October 31, 1997
- British au pair convicted of murder - October 31,1997
- British au pair chooses 'all or nothing' verdict - October 27, 1997
- Cross-examination of nanny called 'minefield' for prosecution - October 26, 1997
- Nanny says she didn't harm baby - October 23, 1997
- Au pair accused of murder takes stand, denies guilt - October 23, 1997
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Court TV Casefiles: Massachusetts v. Woodward
- Shaken Baby Syndrome - A Problem of Growing Concern
- Information About Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Home of the International Au Pair Association
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boards You said it... |
|
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.