The 4-year-old child, victim of abuse by her mother and stepfather, arrested on Wednesday (27), died as a result of SBS (Shaken Baby Syndrome). An expert report contested the version presented by the parents that the boy had died after an accidental fall.
Babies can suffer serious health consequences due to the syndrome – Photo: Freepik/Reproduction/ND
What is Shaken Baby Syndrome?
Shaken Baby Syndrome, also known as non-accidental trauma in babies, is a serious condition that can have fatal consequences for little ones. SBS happens when a baby is shaken hard and in repeated movements.
As it is more fragile and disproportionate to the baby’s size, the weight of the head leaves the brain and eyes more susceptible to bleeding due to the force of the shake.
In some cases SBS may include:
- Fractures in long bones, such as arms and legs;
- Skull fractures;
- Bleeding in the brain;
- Retinal hemorrhages (condition that affects the retinas).
According to SBOP (Brazilian Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology), the majority of victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome are less than one year old, most of them less than six months old.
Injuries caused by SBS can lead to permanent visual and developmental disabilities and even death.
How to avoid?
- Learn techniques to calm your baby, such as rocking, singing or giving a warm bath;
- Never shake or shake the baby, even for a short time;
- Seek medical help immediately if you notice any signs of injury in your child, such as: vomiting, seizures, apathy or excessive drowsiness.
4-year-old child died from the syndrome in SC after neglect
The Civil Police arrested a couple for the crime of child abuse, after the mother and stepfather caused the death of the woman’s son, a 4-year-old boy. The case occurred in 2015, in Florianópolis.
The pair arrested on Wednesday (27) had been on the run for around 8 years and were hiding in coastal cities in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
The child’s mother and stepfather were arrested 8 years after the crime – Photo: PCSC/Disclosure/NDAt the time, the fugitives told the police that the child had fallen and hit his head during a walk in a shopping mall in Florianópolis.
According to the forensic report, the cause of the 4-year-old boy’s death was shaken baby syndrome, disputing the version presented by the victim’s mother and stepfather. The child died brain dead on June 21, 2015.
Join the group and receive the main news
of Greater Florianópolis in the palm of your hand.
Tags: understand condition killed child
