Abusive head trauma

Abusive head trauma is a 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's 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.

Abusive head trauma often occurs when a baby won't stop crying and a caregiver loses control of their 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.

Abusive head trauma may also be called shaken baby syndrome. Some doctors may use the term "intentional head injury" to describe how it happened.

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. These include 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.

Abusive head trauma can be hard to diagnose because there are often no clear signs. Symptoms like vomiting or poor appetite can be mistaken for an infection.

If a doctor thinks a baby may have abusive head trauma, they will ask about the child's past health and do a physical exam. They will do imaging tests, such as an X-ray, an MRI, or a CT scan, to check for injuries. They may also do tests to rule out other causes of the child's symptoms.

If the doctor suspects abusive head trauma, they must report it to authorities.

A child with abusive head trauma needs to be in the hospital, sometimes in an intensive care unit (ICU). Oxygen therapy may be used to help the child breathe. Doctors may give the child medicine to help ease brain swelling. Sometimes a cooling mattress will help lower the child's body temperature and reduce brain swelling.

Depending on the symptoms, doctors may try seizure medicine, physical therapy, or other treatments. A child who has severe bleeding in the brain may need surgery.