Shaken Baby Syndrome Causes, Symptoms, and Herbal Treatment  

Abstract

It is also known as shaken impact syndrome. It is a serious brain injury that occurs when parents or relatives forcefully shake the child with anger or frustration. As babies have weak neck muscles of the neck the muscles cannot hold their head properly. Due to severe shaking of the baby, the head of the baby moves back and forth and causes severe brain injury. Men are more responsible for this syndrome than women.

Introduction

Forcefully shaking the baby’s head moving back and forth and causing fatal brain injury. When a baby’s head impacts a surface it causes subdural haemorrhage (collection of blood between blood and dura), and subarachnoid haemorrhage (collection of blood between brain and arachnoid), Due to lack of oxygen the child stops breathing during shaking. Other injuries include retinal haemorrhages (involving multiple layers of the retina), skull fracture when the baby’s head hit on a hard surface, fracture of bones including collarbone, and ribs, and bruising of the baby’s face. This condition occurs between three to eight months of childhood. Most of the cases are seen before the baby’s first birthday and victims of child abuse cases. The syndrome is the common reason for death and long-term disability of the child. Three important clinical features to find out about shaken baby syndrome are retinal haemorrhages, brain swelling, and subdural hematoma. The shaken baby syndrome is defined in a PURPLE way that is baby cries mostly at the age of 2 months, the baby cries and is calm in both manners at the same time, and the baby cries instantly, as long as the baby cries for 30-40 minutes, baby mostly cries in late afternoon or in evening time.

Causes for Shaken Baby Syndrome

1. Commonly occurs when the baby is crying and the aggressive parent shakes the baby forcefully
2. Baby has a large head with weak neck muscles
3. Domestic violence
4. Stress
5. Alcohol abuse
6. Family problems
7. Depression
8. Young parents

Symptoms

1. Breathing problems
2. Difficulty in swallowing
3. Changes in skin colour
4. Not smiling-eating -laughing
5. Irritate nature
6. Affect the posture of the baby
7. Less movement of a baby due to injury
8. Dilated pupils due to eye injury
9. Altered level of consciousness
10. Respiration problem
11. Decreased appetite
12.  Difficulty in motion
13. Vomiting
14. Cardiac arrest
15.  Paralysis
16.  Seizures
17. Coma
18. Convulsions
19. Death

Diagnosis

1. History
2. CT (Computerised tomography)  scan to find injury of the head
3. MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) to find out the subdural hematoma and subarachnoid haemorrhage.
4. Optic fundus examination for checking retinal haemorrhages and displacement
5. X-ray to find out the broken bones.
6. Check three features that are brain swelling, subdural hematoma, and retinal haemorrhages.
7. Drug screening
8. Routine blood sample
9. Lumbar puncture
10. Skeletal survey

Long-Term Effects on Baby Due to Shaken Baby Syndrome

1. Brain impairment
2. Difficulty in hearing
3. Cerebral palsy
4. Loss of vision leads to visual impairment
5. Damage to the spinal cord and neck muscles
6. Delay in growth of baby
7. Behaviour changes
8. Seizures
9. Serious brain injury sometimes leads to permanent brain damage.

Treatment

1. Hold the baby with a calm mind
2. Give breathing support to the baby
3. Brain surgery if needed
4. Medications to treat brain swelling

Ayurveda Aspect for Shaken Baby Syndrome

In Ayurveda, the shaken baby syndrome is closely related to the vata dosha. As the vata dosha imbalances in the body, the losses occur in the nervous system. As Acharays explained, the head is the one of the three main points of the body also known as the trimarma point. As per Acharya Shusrat in सु.चि.२।२०, it is correlated with the क्षतव्रण. As injury occurs it causes abnormality in part, and the colour of the skin will become yellowish that is पाण्डु वर्ण.

Symptoms Are Described as Follows

1. Unable to focus
2. Developmental problem
3. Difficulty in sleeping
4. Emotional disabilities
5. Posture changes are seen
6. Anorexia
7. Involuntary controls are seen in the body

Pathophysiology

As the vata dosha imbalance hormonal and nervous changes are seen in the body and body functions are hampered.

Herbal Remedies for Shaken Baby Syndrome by Planet Ayurveda

Planet Ayurveda provides different kinds of herbal remedies for shaken baby syndrome. The products provided by Planet Ayurveda are safe and free from chemicals, preservatives, and adulterants. The herbal remedies given by Planet Ayurveda are follows as

Products List

1. Kumar Kalyan Ras
2. Neuro Plan Syrup
3. Aravindasav

Product Description

1. Kumar Kalyan Ras

It is made up of Kumari Rasa (Aloe-vera extract juice), Ras sindoor (shuddha parda), Mukta bhasma (bhasma of pearl), Swarna bhasma (bhasma of gold), and many others. It helps as an immunity booster and improves brain intelligence. It corrects the nervous system’s functioning and strengthens the bone. It contains anti-inflammatory properties so it helps relieve muscle spasms, calming the mind, reducing inflammation, and reducing joint pain.

Dosage– One tablet twice a day after a meal.

2. Neuro Plan Syrup

It is made up of a combination of many herbs such as Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus),  Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus), Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica), Sonth (Zingiber officinale), Honey and many other herbs. As it contains medhya dravya it improves brain functions, improves memory. It helps in muscle relaxation and prevents seizures. It is Deepana properties that increase digestive fire and improve appetite.

Dosage– 2 teaspoons twice a day

3. Aravindasav

It is an herbal medicine consisting of Kamal Phool (Nelumbium speciosum), Khus (Vetiveria zizanioides), Gur (Saccharum officinarum), Anantmul (Hemidesmus indicus) and many other herbs. It strengthens the body and improves body weight. Remove blockage from the body and help in strengthening bone and wound healing. It improves oxygen and blood supply to the brain so improves brain functions, and neuronal functions, and enhances memory.

Dosage– 2 teaspoons twice a day

Contact Planet Ayurveda Support Team to provide you the costing / ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or Call at 0172-521-4040 (India), +91-172-521-4040 (Outside India) or Whatsapp at (+91) 9915-593-604

Conclusion

As we know shaken baby syndrome is a very critical condition in which when a baby is forcefully shaken the nerves of the brain go back and forth causing a life-threatening condition.  Normally it is called child abuse or abusive head trauma. The shaken baby syndrome affects the child in the long term and in certain cases, death also occurs. Vata dosha causes changes in the nervous system and the baby is unable to perform the normal function of the body. Due to vitiated vata dosha confusion, altered consciousness, and involuntary movements are seen. Parent counselling is done and supportive treatment is also needed. As per Acharya Shusrat in सु.चि.२।२०, it is correlated with the क्षतव्रण. As injury occurs it causes abnormality in part, and the color of the skin will become yellowish that is पाण्डु वर्ण. The planet Ayurveda provides herbal remedies to cure shaken baby syndrome that is Kumar Kalyan ras, Neuro plan syrup, and Arvindasav.