Open AccessNeurological manifestations associated with the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome
Author(s) -
Júlia Beatriz Xavier do Nascimento,
Angela dos Santos Avakian,
Larissa Maria de Paula Rebouças da Costa,
Gabriel de Souza Torres
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
DOI - 10.5327/1516-3180.371
Subject(s) - lethargy , medicine , pediatrics , crying , shaken baby syndrome , vomiting , neurological examination , head trauma , anterior fontanelle , cortical blindness , physical examination , poison control , surgery , child abuse , injury prevention , psychiatry , blindness , medical emergency , optometry
Introduction: Shaken baby syndrome is common in neurotrauma in children, with an estimated incidence of 14 to 40 cases per 100,000 children under 1 year. The sudden acceleration and deceleration movement of the head is the main cause. The diagnosis is made through the analysis of the patient’s clinical history and imaging exams that search for retinal hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, skull and rib fractures. Objectives: To identify the main diagnostic neurological manifestations associated with the Shaken Baby Syndrome. Methods: A narrative review including meta-analysis articles, review and systematic review was carried out in the PubMed database with the following descriptors: shaken + baby + syndrome from 2011 to 2021. Results: Most children with SBS arrive at the hospital with nonspecific symptoms. Initial neurological manifestations include decreased level of consciousness, lack of appetite, persistent crying for no apparent reason, lethargy, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness and, in severe cases, can present apnea, bulging of the fontanelle, convulsions and shock. Late consequences include difficulty reading, vision problems, including blindness, hearing and physical impairment, cerebral palsy and death. Conclusions: SBS is a major cause of child mortality from physical abuse. It is associated with the sudden movement of the head and its main cause is the lack of knowledge of this syndrome.