5-Week-Old Boy Hospitalized for Shaken Baby Syndrome, 19-Year-Old Father Arrested

A 19-year-old father from Missouri was arrested after his infant was found with bleeding of the brain and other injuries caused by shaken baby syndrome (also called abusive head trauma), according to the NWA online website.  The 5-week-old boy was hospitalized Saturday at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield and was reported to be in critical condition after his mother observed that he was experiencing difficulty breathing and took him to Mercy Medical Center.

According to the article, father Zachary Campbell told police that he was stressed from lack of sleep caused by the infant's crying.  He reportedly told investigators that he shook his son because the baby was crying.

As an advocate for injured and abused children, Chris Keane hopes for the full and fast recovery of this infant.  If you believe that your baby has been shaken and may be suffering from abusive head trauma, feel free to contact child injury lawyer Chris Keane with any questions you may have.  The Keane Law Firm will provide you with free information and will help you acquire the resources your child needs to reach maximum recovery.  Contact Chris Keane online or call 1-888-592-KIDS.

Relevant Link:

Report: Baby Hospitalized After Apparent Shaking

Treatment for Shaken Baby Syndrome | CA Abusive Head Trauma Attorney

Although treatment for shaken baby syndrome varies depending on the specific situation and other factors, including the age of the child and the extent and type of injuries involved, some of the immediate treatments are relatively common among shaken baby syndrome victims.  An infant or child who has been shaken should be taken and admitted to a hospital as soon as possible, where doctors will closely observe, monitor, and treat the baby.  If physicians see signs of brain swelling and breathing problems, they will send the baby to the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory support (in the form of oxygen therapy or a ventilator), since such problems may lead to a stroke or dead brain cells.  Sometimes a shaken baby may need to undergo surgery to treat brain swelling and internal bleeding.  In many instances, doctors may need to drain the blood around the brain to prevent future brain damage.

In addition to the use of a breathing machine or surgery, medicine may be prescribed to prevent seizures and decrease brain swelling.  If necessary, doctors may place shunts where appropriate to move fluid from certain parts of the body.  If your child's brain injuries are severe or life-threatening, he or she may require more time in the hospital for treatment.  An IV (short for intravenous fluids) may be required to keep body fluids and salts under control, or a tube for emptying or feeding the stomach may be needed.

Upon evaluation of the degree of injury or other injuries sustained, doctors may administer other treatment to the shaken baby.  To diagnose head injuries more definitively, doctors may call for brain scans (like MRIs and CTs) or extensive evaluations of the eyes and brain.  Other injuries from the abuse are evaluated and treated, as well, such as broken bones, cuts, or seizures.

The few treatments described here (not a comprehensive list) reveal just how serious shaken baby syndrome is.  If you believe your child has been shaken or you have any questions regarding abusive head trauma, seek immediate medical attention, and feel free to contact shaken baby syndrome attorney Chris Keane for helpful resources in your time of need.  Contact Chris Keane via the web or call 1-888-592-KIDS.

Relevant Links/ Resources:

Keane Law Firm | What Kind of Treatment is Common After Shaken Baby Syndrome?

PDR Health |  How is Shaken Baby Syndrome Treated?

WebMD |  Shaken Baby Syndrome:  Treatment Overview

Medicine Net | What are the Treatments for Shaken Baby Syndrome?

NINDS | Is There Any Treatment?

California Man Faces Child Abuse Charges of Shaking His 8-Month-Old Daughter | CA Shaken Baby Syndrome Attorney

A man from La Habra, California pleaded not guilty on Monday, June 15, to shaking his 8-month-old baby, but he still faces an preliminary hearing on August 3rd regarding his charges of child abuse and endangerment, according to the Whittier Daily News website.  The alleged incident occurred May 16 when, according to the spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney's Office, 37-year-old Joseph Wise shook the child forward, backward, and upside-down before throwing her on the bed.  The same date, Los Angeles County firemen and La Habra police received a call reporting that the baby was not breathing, and when they arrived at Wise's residence, they found the young girl experiencing difficulty breathing and rushed her to a local medical center.  Although the baby was released from the hospital over a week ago, she reportedly suffered severe bodily injury and medical problems that could have turned fatal without proper care.

After seeing the serious effects of child injuries, child abuse, and shaken baby syndrome first-hand, the Keane Law Firm is committed to representing children and only children in abuse and injury cases, and we hope for the fast and full recovery of the little girl in this incident.  If you believe that your child may have been abused or may be suffering from abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome), feel free to contact child injury attorney Chris Keane with your most important questions.  As an advocate for survivors of shaken baby syndrome, he will compassionately and professionally answer all of your questions for free.

Contact Chris Keane via the web or call 1-888-592-KIDS.

Relevant Link: 

La Habra Man Denies Abusing Baby Daughter; Officials Say Child Shaken