eMedicine Specialties > Neurology > Pediatric Neurology

Neonatal Injuries in Child Abuse: Treatment & Medication

Author: Nitin C Patel, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology and Child Health, Department of Child Health, Interim Division Chief for Developmental Pediatrics and Child Neurology, Specialist in Pediatrics/Neurology, University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics at Columbia
Coauthor(s): Robin D Davenport, BS, MSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Missouri Health Care Hospitals and Clinics; Bhagwan I Moorjani, MD, FAAP, FAAN, Consulting Staff, Department of Neuroscience, Director, Department of Neuroscience, Division of Evoked Response Laboratory, Children's National Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 18, 2009

Treatment

Medical Care

Supportive care is the mainstay of treatment in child abuse.

  • Blood pressure and vital signs should be supported and maintained.
  • Provide mechanical ventilation as needed.
  • Treat increased intracranial pressure, if present.

Surgical Care

  • Intracranial monitoring may be necessary, especially when intracranial pressure is a problem.
  • In the presence of subdural hematoma, surgical evacuation may be necessary.

Consultations

  • Consult an ophthalmologist who is well versed in identifying eye findings in abused children. The ophthalmologist is required for the initial ophthalmic evaluation and possibly for follow-up as well.
  • Appropriate referral to the state or county protective (abuse) center is necessary to identify siblings who may be at risk of abuse.
  • Referral to a physician who specializes in abuse can be helpful but not mandatory.

Activity

  • Physical therapy and occupational therapy can be helpful after neurologic injury.
  • Speech therapy might be beneficial for patients in whom speech and/or language may be affected.

More on Neonatal Injuries in Child Abuse

Overview: Neonatal Injuries in Child Abuse
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Neonatal Injuries in Child Abuse
Treatment & Medication: Neonatal Injuries in Child Abuse
Follow-up: Neonatal Injuries in Child Abuse
Multimedia: Neonatal Injuries in Child Abuse
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

shaken baby syndrome, shaken-baby syndrome, SBS, shaking, neurologic injury in child abuse, battered child syndrome, battered-child syndrome, child abuse, shaken infant, shaking impact syndrome, shaking-impact syndrome, retinal hemorrhage

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Nitin C Patel, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology and Child Health, Department of Child Health, Interim Division Chief for Developmental Pediatrics and Child Neurology, Specialist in Pediatrics/Neurology, University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics at Columbia
Nitin C Patel, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, American Headache Society, and Child Neurology Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robin D Davenport, BS, MSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Department of Pediatric Neurology, University of Missouri Health Care Hospitals and Clinics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Bhagwan I Moorjani, MD, FAAP, FAAN, Consulting Staff, Department of Neuroscience, Director, Department of Neuroscience, Division of Evoked Response Laboratory, Children's National Medical Center
Bhagwan I Moorjani, MD, FAAP, FAAN is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Robert Stanley Rust Jr, MD, MA, Thomas E Worrell Jr Professor of Epileptology and Neurology, Co-Director of FE Dreifuss Child Neurology and Epilepsy Clinics, Director, Child Neurology, University of Virginia; Chair-Elect, Child Neurology Section, American Academy of Neurology
Robert Stanley Rust Jr, MD, MA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Epilepsy Society, American Headache Society, American Neurological Association, Child Neurology Society, International Child Neurology Association, and Society for Pediatric Research
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Kenneth J Mack, MD, PhD, Senior Associate Consultant, Department of Child and Adolescent Neurology, Mayo Clinic
Kenneth J Mack, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Neuroscience
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Matthew J Baker, MD, Consulting Staff, Collier Neurologic Specialists, Naples Community Hospital
Matthew J Baker, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Amy Kao, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University; Consulting Staff, Shriners Hospital for Children
Amy Kao, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Epilepsy Society, and Child Neurology Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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