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Intentional Asphyxiation Using Baby Wipes: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Nicole Gerber1,2,3,4, Shweta Iyer1,2,3, Didier Murillo Parra3

  • 1From the Department of Emergency Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|July 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Foreign body suffocation is a rare form of child abuse. This case report details an infant suffocated with a baby wipe, emphasizing the need to consider abuse in pediatric oral injuries and foreign body aspirations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Forensic Medicine
  • Child Abuse

Background:

  • Abusive suffocation using foreign bodies is an uncommon but severe form of child maltreatment.
  • Early recognition and intervention are critical for improving outcomes in pediatric abuse cases.

Observation:

  • A 2-month-old infant presented with respiratory distress after a female babysitter forcibly suffocated him with a baby wipe.
  • The infant had a history of colic, which may have been a trigger for the abusive act.
  • Physical examination revealed intraoral lacerations and a left diaphyseal humeral fracture.

Findings:

  • Otorhinolaryngology successfully removed the foreign body (baby wipe) in the operating room.
  • The infant sustained significant intraoral trauma and a humerus fracture, indicative of physical abuse.
  • This case represents one of the few documented instances of abusive suffocation specifically involving baby wipes.

Implications:

  • Healthcare providers should maintain a high index of suspicion for child abuse in pediatric patients presenting with unexplained oral injuries or foreign body aspirations.
  • Prompt identification of abusive suffocation is crucial for timely medical and legal intervention.
  • Further research and awareness are needed regarding uncommon methods of abusive suffocation in infants and young children.

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