Shaken baby syndrome and consciousness; Chapter 16
| Author | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
Universitatsklinikum Giessen und Marburg, Standort Giessen, Department of Internal Medicine, Giessen, Germany | ||
ISBN 978-1-63484-260-0 (Hardcover).
ISBN 978-1-63484-261-7 (eBook)
ISBN 978-1-63484-305-8 (Hardcover)
Bibliogr.: p. 77-78
In this chapter we aim to study and identify the cases of child abuse and signs of their presentation as well as to determine the relationship between consciousness and shaken baby syndrome in children under 36 months of age. A total of 385 patients met the “highrisk” criteria for child abuse and were divided into two groups: 51 (13.2%) abused and 334 (86.8%) non-abused children. The abused children were significantly younger than non-abused (mean age 6 vs. 14 months); 74.5% (n=38) were younger than 1 year. In 21 (80%) cases, shaken baby syndrome was identified. Seizures, somnolence or collapse, decreased level of consciousness, vomiting, episodes of respiratory arrest or cyanosis, and an indefinite head lump were the main complaints among children with shaken baby syndrome. Retinal hemorrhages were documented in 18 (35.3%) cases of the abused group and only 2 (0.8%) cases of the non-abused group. Physicians examining a child aged less than 3 years with unexplainable respiratory arrest, seizures, decreased level of consciousness should be aware of child abuse.