| Abstract | The article studies the characteristics of the shaken baby syndrome from 10 cases in Hong Kong. Six boys and four girls (mean age, 0.45 years; range, 0.18-1.42 years) in whom the shaken baby syndrome was diagnosed between January 1994 and June 1998 in regional public hospital, Hong Kong. The result shows that all 10 patients presented with coma: the mean score on the Glasgow coma scale was 4.8 (range, 3-10). In all 10 cases, the history provided by the carers was incompatible with the patient's presentation. Nine patients presented with seizures. Retinal haemorrhages were detected in all patients, but peripheral signs of bruising were observed in only three. Acute subdural haematoma was found in eight patients; one of the remaining two children had subarachnoid and subdural haemorrhages, whereas the other had subarachnoid and intracerebral haemorrhages. Skeletal fractures were detected in two patients. The suspected abusers included either or both parents (n=3), childminders (n=3), and maids (n=2); the identity of the abusers were unknown in two cases. In conclusion, medical practitioners should be alert to the occurrence of abusive head injury in children. Peripheral signs are uncommon and a high degree of suspicion is needed for the management to be successful. |
|---|
