Article Text
Abstract
Aim: To determine the prevalence of retinal haemorrhages in infants presenting with convulsions and admitted to hospital, and to consider whether this finding indicates shaken baby syndrome.
Methods: Prospective study of children aged 15 days to 2 years admitted with a diagnosis of first convulsion over a 2-year period (May 2004–May 2006). All infants were examined by an experienced ophthalmologist using indirect ophthalmoscopy within 72 h of admission.
Results: 182 of 389 children seen in the accident and emergency department were admitted and two were found to have retinal haemorrhages. Both children were eventually diagnosed as being abused.
Conclusions: Convulsions alone are unlikely to cause retinal haemorrhages in children under 2 years of age.
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Footnotes
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Competing interests None.
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Provenance and Peer review not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.