What is shaken baby syndrome?

Shaken baby syndrome is brain injury that occurs when someone shakes a baby or throws a baby against an object. It is a form of child abuse. It may happen to children up to 5 years of age, but it is most common in babies younger than 1 year old. It is never okay to shake or throw a young child. It may not leave any obvious sign of injury, but it can cause serious long-term problems or even death. Shaken baby syndrome often occurs when a baby won't stop crying and a caregiver loses control of his or her emotions. Parents can help prevent this problem by learning healthy ways to relieve stress and anger. It's also important to choose child care providers carefully. Shaken baby syndrome may also be called "shaken-impact syndrome." Many doctors use the term "abusive head trauma" to describe the injury. They may use "intentional head injury" to describe how it happened. Symptoms vary among children based on how old they are, how often they've been abused, how long they were abused each time, and how much force was used. Mild injuries may cause subtle symptoms. For example, a child may: •Be fussy, grouchy, or sluggish. •Vomit. •Not be hungry. A child with more severe injuries may have symptoms such as: • Seizures. •A slow heartbeat. •Trouble hearing. •Bleeding inside one or both eyes. A child who has been shaken or thrown may also have other signs of abuse, such as broken bones, bruises, or burns. Symptoms can start quickly, especially in a badly injured child. Other times, it may take a few days for brain swelling to cause symptoms. Sometimes caregivers who harm a child will put the child to bed. They may hope that symptoms will get better with rest. By the time the child gets to a doctor, the child may need urgent care. In some cases, the child may be in a coma before a caregiver seeks help. Hope it helps!