If There Is No Trauma History, What's Happened?

Abstract

Introduction: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is probably an underestimated diagnosis. It is the leading cause of death from child abuse. Crying is thought to contribute to the act of shaking.

Case Report: A4-month-old girl presented to the emergency room with convulsions. She was unconscious with dilated pupils. In the detailed physical examination, she did not have any head or body trauma signs. The eye fundus examination showed extended retinal hemorrhagic areas. Her brain computerized tomography examination revealed a subdural hematoma at the posterior fossa near the posterior cerebellum at the level of the cisterna magna. The girl was admitted to the extensive care unit, where she died after 5 days. Her mother confessed that she had shaken the baby.

Conclusion: Shaken baby syndrome should be kept in mind with a baby with no trauma history and no trauma signs in the physical examination. An inconsistent history must alert for emergency physicians.

[Serinken, Mustafa] Pamukkale Univ, Dept Emergency Med, Fac Med, Denizli, Turkey.