Shaken Baby Syndrome The most Prevalent Non-Accidental Head Injury in Infants

Shaken baby syndrome is the most severe form of physical abuse in infancy and the most frequent unnatural cause of death. More than two-thirds of all fatal cases of child abuse occur at this age. Over 90% of all intracranial injuries during infancy are due to abuse. This study aims at investigating definition, prevalence, risk factors, clinical symptoms and diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome.

This study is a review article conducted based on on the data available in credible databases of the years 2000-2011.

Shaken baby syndrome encompasses a set of symptoms resulting from shaking the baby. This syndrome occurs when caregivers shake a crying baby strongly forward and backward by holding him/her at the trunk or arms. shaken baby syndrome can occur at any age but due to having big head, heavy brain and weakness in muscles of the neck, babies are more susceptible to it. Children who have been under severe shakes show such symptoms as irritability, weakness, sickness, vomiting, convulsion, lack of consciousness, apnea, or death, while those of weaker shakes show non-specific symptoms similar to viral diseases, infection and malnutrition. Shaken baby syndrome is diagnosed based on triple symptoms including encephalopathy and subdural and retinal hemorrhage. These children experience various consequences ranging from healthy look to permanent disability including mental retardation, developmental delays, paralysis, epilepsy, visual and hearing deficiency and personality disorders. Discussion and

Although prevalent, shaken baby syndrome is completely preventable. Such prevention is achievable through different ways including protecting child against misbehavior of caregivers, providing parents with information regarding legal rights of their children and training health caregivers, physicians, nurses, social workers as well as parents on reasons and dangers resulting from shaken baby syndrome.