CHILD ABUSE: A CASE STUDY REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Abusive head trauma (AHT) used to be named shaken baby syndrome or abused child. It is an injury to the skull and intracranial components of a baby or child younger than 5 years due to violent shaking and/or abrupt impact. It is a worldwide leading cause of fatal head injuries in children under 2 years. The data of this affection are underestimated because of the ignorance and the diagnostic negligence in particular in the developing countries where the medico -legal frameworks are known and not really applied. AHT is caused by shaking as well as impact, crushing or their various combinations by acceleration, deceleration and rotation. The clinical signs include subdural hematoma, retinal haemorrhages and fractures of the long bones, skull or ribs and sometimes spinal trauma, compatible with the mechanism of trauma. The management is medico-legal and medico-surgical. The subduroperitoneal diversion is the most commonly used surgical technique depending on the size of the hematoma. The prognostics of patients with AHT correlate with the extent of injury identified on CT and MRI imaging. The sequelae and the future of the patient depend on the delay in diagnosis and treatment.