Prevention Education Saves Lives
In 2004, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Tom Green County acquired the Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) prevention effort to educate the public and anyone at risk of harming their baby. Education is the key component in decreasing the incidence of SBS. Parents, child care providers, and other caregivers are encouraged to educate others by printing out the dangers of shaking a baby, signs and symptoms of SBS, ways to cope with a crying baby, phone numbers to crisis hotlines, and more. More importantly, volunteering with the Children’s Advocacy Center SBS prevention program is another way to conquer this horrific form of abuse. We are always seeking quality volunteers who are comfortable speaking in public and would be willing to periodically speak to the community about this subject. Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the collection of signs and symptoms resulting from the violent shaking of an infant or small child. It is a form of child abuse. In America last year, approximately 1,200 - 1,400 children were shaken for whom treatment was sought. Of these tiny victims, 25 -30% died as a result of their injuries. The rest will have lifelong complications. It is likely that many more babies suffered from the effects of SBS and no one knows, because SBS victims rarely have any external evidence of trauma.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
In any SBS case, the duration and force of the shaking, the number of episodes, and whether impact is involved all affect the severity of the infant's injuries. In the most violent cases, children may arrive at the emergency room unconscious, suffering seizures, or in shock. But, in many cases, infants may never be brought to medical attention if they don't exhibit such severe symptoms. In less severe cases, a baby who has been shaken may experience: - lethargy
- irritability
- vomiting
- poor sucking or swallowing
- decreased appetite
- lack of smiling or vocalizing
- rigidity seizures
- difficulty breathing
- altered consciousness
- unequal pupil size
- an inability to lift the head
- an inability to focus the eyes or track movement
How Is It Diagnosed?
Many cases of SBS are brought in for medical care as "silent injuries." In other words, parents or caregivers don't often provide a history that the child has had abusive head trauma or a shaking injury, so doctors don't know to look for subtle or physical signs. This "silent epidemic" can result in children having injuries that aren't identified in the medical system. In many cases, babies who don't have severe symptoms may never be brought to a doctor. In addition, unless a doctor has reason to suspect SBS, mild cases (in which the infant seems lethargic, fussy, or perhaps isn't feeding well) are often misdiagnosed as a viral illness or colic. Without a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome and any resulting intervention with the parents or caregivers, these children may be shaken again, worsening any brain injury or damage.
IF YOU SUSPECT, SEEK EMERGENCY MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY!
Doctors will confirm by: hemorrhages in the retinas of the eyes (extremely rare in any accidental injuries, such as falls) skull fractures swelling of the brain
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