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Infant hematoma: Causes and Symptoms

Posted on 02. Apr, 2011 by Admin in Child Injuries

Learning that one’s newborn child has sustained an infant hematoma may well be distressing news, though the prognosis can be good if detected early enough.

What is infant hematoma?

An infant hematoma , is also known as subdural infant hematoma, and simply means that the veins beneath the outer covering of the brain have torn, thus allowing blood to pool and necessitating speedy diagnosis and quick intervention in order to prevent permanent damage.

Causes

The cause of an infant hematoma is often due to trauma, or injury to the head. Whether inflicted intentionally as an instance of child abuse; accidentally; or for a cause that cannot be ascertained, it is frequently the subject of investigation. A study published in 2000 in “Pediatrics,” the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, found that almost 20 percent of infant hematoma resulted from accidental trauma. However, 76 percent of cases were found to have resulted from abuse. The younger the children were, the more likely that abuse was the contributing factor.

There is the further possibility that the trauma could have been inflicted during the birth process. Despite the sophistication of modern medical procedures, unexpected circumstances can arise and errors can be made. Such difficulties can occur when the baby is not passing through the birth canal in a normal manner and human intervention becomes necessary. This often requires physicians to use specific tools to adjust an infant’s birth journey. Infants who have turned sideways, for example, might have to be turned around. Such difficult deliveries frequently involve the use of forceps, or vacuum extraction devices.

Symptoms

There are tell-tale signs of infant hematoma. According to the National Institute of Health, these include a bulging fontanelle, the soft spot on a baby’s skull that hardens with time. Perfectly normal fontanelles can bulge, however, tending to enlarge somewhat when in a prone position. If the size of the fontanelle reverts to normal after sitting up, no problem is indicated. Feeding difficulties, seizures and persistent vomiting are also signs to look for. Additional indicators are enlarged head circumference, a high-pitched cry, and excessive sleepiness or irritability.

Goldberg & Osborne, a personal injury law firm, has provided this article for informational purposes only, written by an independent author, and has not reviewed or edited this article and is not responsible for its content or accuracy.

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