Battered Baby Syndrome

Battered Baby Syndrome may be defined as a child who has received repeated physical injuries as a result of non-accidental violence produced by parents or legal guardians.

SYNONYMS OF BATTERED BABY SYNDROME:

• Shaken Baby Syndrome
• Abusive Head Trauma
• Child Abuse Syndrome
• Caffey’s Syndrome
• Maltreatment Syndrome in Children
• Non-accidental Injury

PREDISPOSING FACTORS OF BATTERED BABY SYNDROME:

1. CHARACTER OF PARENT

Low socioeconomic condition

Stressful life

Single parenthood

Drug addict

Alcoholics

Arrogant and rude parent

Lack of education

Broken family

Adultery or second marriage

2. CHARACTER OF BABY

Incessant crying

Whining infancy

Excessive fussiness

Failed to learn toileting

Refusal to take food

Disobedience

Hyperkinetic baby

Unwanted child

Usually, less than 3 years

Male children are slightly more vulnerable

Normally, the eldest or youngest one suffers more

TYPES OF INJURIES FOUND IN BATTERED BABY SYNDROME:

Battered child syndrome is the most often diagnosed by an emergency department room physician or pediatrician, or by teachers or social workers.

Physical examination will detect injuries such as

abrasions different part of the body.

bruises with the vairious age.

burn may be found .

painful swelling may be found

retinal hemorrhages octionaly found (bleeding in the back of the eye),

Internal damage some times occur such as bleeding or rupture of an organ,

Fractures of long bones or spiral-type fractures resulting from twisting and fractured ribs or skulls.

DIAGNOSIS OF BATTERED BABY SYNDROME:

• Establishing the diagnosis is often hindered by
  • the excessive cautiousness of caregivers or parent
  • by the actual concealment of the true origin of the child’s injuries as of a result of a fear, shame, and avoidance or denial mechanisms.
• Symptoms may be including
  • a delayed visit to the emergency room with an the injured child
  • an implausible explanation of the cause of the child’s injury
  • Bruises that may be match the shape of a hand, fist, or belt
• The presence of a injuries at different stages of the healing (i.e., having occurred at a different times) is nearly always indicative of BCS.
• X-rays and the other imaging techniques are such as MRI or scans, may confirm or reveal other the  internal injuries.

AFTERWARD EFFECTS OF BBS

• a poor self-image
• sexual acting out
• an inability to love or trust others
• aggressive, disruptive, or illegal behavior
• anger, rage, anxiety  , or fear
• self-destructive or self-abusive behavior
• suicidal thoughts
• passive or withdrawn behavior
• fear of entering into a new relationships or activities
• school problems or failure
• sadness or other symptoms of depression
• flashbacks or nightmares
• drug or alcohol abuse