Baby abuse increase fears

The brain of a baby is vulnerable to damage

A detailed study of babies and toddlers injured when shaken by their parents has revealed many more cases than previously thought.

And the expert conducting the research believes that this form of abuse may be on the rise - perhaps due to a general fall in parenting ability.

"Shaken baby syndrome" often happens as a result of child abuse.

The baby's head is twisted and decelerated so violently that damage is caused to blood vessels on the brain.

These are serious brain injuries we are talking about

Dr Robert Minns, consultant neurologist

Doctors in accident and emergency units are well aware that when a baby arrives with bleeding on the brain, abuse may be a reason for this.

However, there are few studies which tell doctors how frequently these cases are occurring in the UK.

Doctors at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh have conducted a detailed review of cases in Scotland over an 18 month period.

The results were published in The Lancet medical journal.

'We suspected more'

And they have found the level of non-accidental head injuries to be more than twice the level recorded in previous research studies.

Statistically, 24 in every 100,000 children under the age of one will suffer such injuries.

Dr Robert Minns, who led the research, told BBC News Online: "These are serious brain injuries we are talking about.

"We expected that there would be more than were previously showing up. I suspect there has been a real increase over time as well as the fact that these injuries are more likely to be properly recorded.

"It could be that some parents these days are lacking in certain skills, such as knowing how to comfort a baby which cries continuously."

Dr Minns is hopeful that, by providing extra information of this type to couples expecting babies, then the number of shaken babies can be cut.

Chris Cloke, from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said: "This research shows the desperate need for improved support for parents both before and after the child is born.

"Mothers and fathers often come under unbearable strain due to sleeplessness and persistent crying.

"Parents must be made aware of the real and often fatal dangers of shaking a vulnerable and fragile baby."