Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) results when a parent, relative or care giver shakes a baby or very young child. The effect is that the child’s brain will bounce around their head and come into contact with their skull. Their brain can then become swollen and bruised. There are a range of symptoms of SBS but it is hard to tell whether a child’s injuries are a definite result of being shaken.
Shaking does not have to be prolonged or particularly violent to cause injury. Therefore educating new parents towards the dangers of becoming angry with their newborn child or holding them while being irritated by a third party is necessary. The fact of the matter is that SBS can result in death as well as life long side effects. Newborn children deserve love and care. They depend upon their parents for everything. We must not let them down.
The thing is, there might not appear to be any signs of physical injury. For instance, bruising, bleeding or swelling. In actual fact, it can be a difficult condition to diagnose. It may not be recognized without further investigation. If a child has an x-ray examination, it may be possible to discover fractures.
A doctor may notice bleeding behind the baby’s eye or perhaps even retinal detachment. The thing is though, there are other causes of bleeding behind the eye. Therefore it is important not to jump to any conclusions. Other factors must be considered before a diagnosis of Shaken Baby Syndrome is made.
You can find out more about SBS at these resources: