'Shaken baby syndrome' doubts Doctors have found evidence to suggest some parents and carers may be falsely accused of violently shaking babies. Senior doctors from across the UK say they now believe some baby brain injuries, which are blamed on suspected violent adults may have much less sinister explanations. Their research indicates that some injuries, which are generally only associated with "shaken baby syndrome" can actually occur in other ways. Up to 200 infants are diagnosed as having died as a result of violent shaking in Britain each year. Brain analysis This latest study by doctors at the Royal London, Addenbrookes and other top hospitals suggests some of those diagnoses may be wrong. They examined the brains of 50 infants who had died before the age of five months. They found that 36 of these children had suffered bleeding in the dura matter - the outer membrane of the brain and spinal cord. Of those, three out of four had also suffered from severe hypoxia or reduced oxygen in the blood. The doctors have suggested that the brain injuries may have been caused by this lack of oxygen. This can occur as a result of infections or disease. But it can also occur if the baby was unable to breathe or was choking. The doctors believe the injuries can also occur naturally and may simply be a "phenomenon of immaturity". For instance, they suggest the damage could be caused when babies' heads flop back. This could be a particular problem in small or premature babies with disproportionately large heads. They believe the injuries could also occur as a result of a fall or through other incidents "without impact or considerable force being necessary. The study is published in the journal Neuropathology & Applied Neurobiology. Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2003/03/13 14:29:37 GMT
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