Shaken baby syndrome

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Shaken baby symptoms

Shaken impact syndrome; Whiplash - shaken infant

The symptoms can vary from mild to severe. They may include:

• Extreme irritability or other changes in behavior
• Lethargy , sleepiness , not smiling
• Poor feeding , lack of appetite
• Decreased alertness
• Loss of consciousness
• Pale or bluish skin
• Vomiting
• Convulsions (seizures)
• Not breathing

There are usually no outward physical signs of trauma, such as bruising, bleeding, or swelling. In some cases, the condition can be difficult to diagnose and may not be identified during an office visit. However, rib fractures are common and can be seen on x-ray.

An ophthalmologist examining the infant's eyes may detect retinal hemorrhage (bleeding behind the eye) or retinal detachment. There are, however, other causes of bleeding behind the eye. A shaken baby syndrome diagnosis cannot be made by the presence of retinal hemorrhage alone. Other factors must be considered.

Review Date: 07/21/2006
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.