A 2-month-old infant has been admitted to the hospital with suspected shaken baby syndrome (abusive head trauma). In reviewing the infant's chart, the nurse expects to encounter which of these clinical findings?

Question

A 2-month-old infant has been admitted to the hospital with suspected shaken baby syndrome (abusive head trauma).  In reviewing the infant's chart, the nurse expects to encounter which of these clinical findings?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a type of abusive head injury and is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as severe physical child abuse resulting from violent shaking of an infant by the arms, legs, or shoulders. The impact of the shaking causes bleeding within the brain or the eyes. It is not uncommon for the diagnosis of SBS to be missed as the clinical findings are often vague and nonspecific-vomiting, irritability, lethargy, inability to suck or eat, seizures, and inconsolable crying. Usually, there are no external signs of trauma except for occasional small bruises on the chest or upper arms where the child was held during the shaking episode. The most common reasons that caregivers seek medical attention for children with SBS are breathing difficulty, apnea, seizures, and lifelessness. Caregivers typically do not offer a history of trauma nor do they report the episodes of shaking. By contrast, children who have sustained unintentional head injury are typically brought for treatment out of concern by their caregivers even when the children are asymptomatic. (Option A) Typically, a history of physical trauma is not reported by the parent or caregiver. (Option B) Abdominal bruising is not an expected clinical finding of SBS. (Option C) External signs of trauma are usually absent on physical examination of an infant with SBS. Minimal bruising on the extremities or chest may be present. Educational objective: Shaken baby syndrome is a form of child physical abuse resulting from violent shaking of an infant by the extremities or shoulder that causes bleeding within the brain and/or eyes. The clinical findings of shaken baby syndrome are nonspecific and include lethargy, vomiting, seizures, irritability, inability to eat, and inconsolable crying. Multiple and severe shaking episodes can result in breathing difficulty and lifelessness. Caregivers typically do not report a history of trauma.

A 2-Month-Old Infant Has Been Admitted to the Hospital with Suspected