Symptoms indicative of Shaken Baby Syndrome are related to which of the following?

• A. uncontrollable cerebral edema and hypoxia
• B. poor nutrition and lack of parental bonding
• C. microcephaly and premature closures of the cranial sutures
• D. vaso-occlusive crisis and cerebral infarction

Answer: (A)

Abusive head trauma (shaken baby syndrome) causes brain injury from violent shaking, leading to swelling of the brain (cerebral edema) and impaired oxygen delivery (hypoxia). This combination underlies many of the neurologic symptoms seen with this injury, such as altered consciousness, seizures, and respiratory problems, and it aligns with the described pattern of edema and hypoxia. The other options describe problems not characteristically caused by shaking: social neglect or bonding issues; congenital skull and brain development anomalies; and sickle cell–related vaso-occlusion with stroke. Thus, widespread brain swelling with hypoxia best fits the presentation of shaken baby syndrome.