Who is responsible for shaken baby syndrome?
The injuries are usually caused by parents or carers who have become frustrated by their inability to stop a baby who is crying constantly. Adults who were victims of abuse themselves and have low frustration levels may be more likely to shake a baby to hush its crying. Typical victims of this abuse are infants with colic who will not stop crying. Almost 80% of the perpetrators of the syndrome are male and more than 60% of the victims are male. Shaken baby syndrome has been referred to as a hidden form of child abuse because doctors evaluating the baby often do not see outward signs of injury on the head or old fractures or burns that are common to abused children. What are the signs that a baby has been shaken? The most common complaints presented to a doctor in shaken baby cases are: • Lethargy; • Seizures; • Decreased muscle tone; • Reduced appetite; • Breathing problems; • Vomiting; • Irritability; • A large head at four months. Doctors should also look out for bruises to the shoul
