Bloody cerebrospinal fluid: traumatic tap or child abuse?
A central nervous system dysfunction of nontraumatic etiology was initially suspected in three cases of shaken baby syndrome. Blood contaminating the cerebrospinal fluid was attributed to a traumatic lumbar puncture. Failure to detect retinal hemorrhages contributed to the misdiagnosis. Emergency physicians must consider the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome in a critically ill infant with bloody cerebrospinal fluid. Ophthalmoscopy should be done routinely in these patients.
D002649:Child Abuse; D005260:Female; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000209:etiology