Chiocca

Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Nursing Perspective.

Citation:

Chiocca EM: Shaken baby syndrome: a nursing perspective. Pediatric Nursing 21(1):33-38, January-February 1995.

Notes:

Abusive parents often have unrealistic expectations of children and expect the child to meet their needs rather than vice versa.
Differential diagnoses include birth trauma, aneurysms, hanging, strangulation, central nervous system infections, anemia, thrombocytopenia, SIDS, unrestrained motor vehicle accidents, metabolic disturbances, electrolyte disorders and seizure disorders.
It may take 24-48 hours for subdural bleeding to manifest after an injury if the bleeding is venous rather than arterial.
A lumbar puncture should be done on any infant with nonspecific symptoms such as vomiting and lethargy, to rule out sepsis.
Interview parents and caregivers separately for stories of how the injury occurred. Assess low stress tolerance, methods of discipline, marital discord and unrealistic expectations for the children.
Shaking is rarely an isolated occurrence. It generally accompanies other types of abuse.