Shaken Baby Syndrome - Description

Medical writers first described shaken baby syndrome in 1972. At first, doctors thought that shaken baby syndrome was caused by accidents. Later, they became more aware of patterns of child abuse and more cases of SBS were properly diagnosed.

Every year, about fifty thousand cases of SBS are reported. Boys make up more than 60 percent of those injured. The average SBS victim is six to eight months old, but children as old as five years or as young as a few days can be affected.

Some cases of SBS occur when a very angry or frustrated adult shakes an infant. In other cases, the injury is a result of ongoing abuse. Statistically, men inflict injury more often than women. These men tend to be in their early twenties. Men responsible for causing SBS are often either the baby's father or the mother's boyfriend. Data shows that women who injure babies are more likely to be babysitters or child care providers than the victim's mother.