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Do retinal haemorrhages occur in infants with convulsions?

A I Curcoy1, V Trenchs, M Morales

  • 1Pediatrics Department, Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain. acurcoy@hsjdbcn.org

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|August 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Retinal hemorrhages are uncommon in infants under two years old who experience convulsions. This study suggests that convulsions alone are unlikely to cause these eye findings, which may indicate abuse.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • Neurology
  • Child Abuse Research

Background:

  • Retinal hemorrhages in infants can be associated with serious conditions, including abusive head trauma.
  • Convulsions are a common presentation in pediatric emergency departments, raising concerns about potential underlying causes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of retinal hemorrhages in infants presenting with convulsions.
  • To evaluate the association between convulsions and retinal hemorrhages, particularly in the context of shaken baby syndrome.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study was conducted over two years, including children aged 15 days to 2 years admitted with their first convulsion.
  • Ophthalmological examinations using indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed within 72 hours of admission for all participating infants.

Main Results:

  • Out of 389 children evaluated in the emergency department, 182 were admitted.
  • Two admitted children were diagnosed with retinal hemorrhages; both were subsequently diagnosed with abuse.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that convulsions alone are an unlikely cause of retinal hemorrhages in children under two years of age.
  • The presence of retinal hemorrhages in this age group warrants further investigation for potential non-accidental injury.
Abstract

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