Baby recovers after six months of intensive Pediatric Neurology Rehabilitation Programme
Mumbai, 4th October, 2013: After six months of intensive rehabilitation treatment by the paediatric neurology and neurorehabilitation team, one-year old baby Sanjot Kaur is now responding to the treatment given for severe brain damage, which was incurred due to non accidental head injury.
Non accidental head injury – earlier known as shaken baby syndrome- is a well recognised clinical entity. The incidence in India is still unknown. However, international studies quote approximate incidence is 24 to 34 per 100000 children younger than 1 year. It is a major cause of long term neuro-disability. Stringent child protection laws and processes are as important as the medical management.
Sanjot, a 6-month old baby was diagnosed with a brain injury in March 2013 when her mother found her unconscious at the Day Care Centre. “On the fourth day when I went to collect her, she was completely unconscious. I asked the caretakers if something had happened but they said the baby had been sleeping for a very long time,” says Sanjot’s mother Danvir.
After the baby did not respond to the treatment being given at she was immediately rushed to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital which is well-equipped to handle such cases with an expert team of paediatric neurologists and one of the few in the city to have a Paediatric neurology department.
Dr Pradnya Gadgil, Consultant, Paediatric Neurology, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital said, The MRI Brain showed evidence of bleeding in certain areas of the brain. There was also evidence of significant brain injury- ie injury to the brain parenchyma. The ophthalmologic examination showed bleeding in the retina. The pattern of neuroimaging and ophthalmological ie - eye examination findings was quite typical of abusive head injury. We indeed investigated for other possible causes of such injury but could not detect any.
The baby came to us in a state of coma. We first brought her seizures under -control and used our neuroprotection strategies to prevent secondary injuries to her brain.
She further emphasizes, “Due to severe brain injury the baby currently shows the development of a four-month old after more than five months of intense neuro-rehabilitation.
The recovery is gradual and requires long term neurorehabilitation.
A medico legal case was registered by the Hospital. However, the franchise owner of the day care center said that the baby must have suffered the brain damage while travelling in an autorickshaw or car with her mother, whereas the parents allege that the baby was forcefully shaken to stop her from crying.
Today, almost after 5 months of the event the baby has made significant progress. She has had no seizures. She is now trying to sit with support, laughs, babbles and plays with toys.
About Centre for Children
Care of sick children has been one of the cornerstones in our planning and the centre delivers complete services for robust child health. We provide specialised support for children with development problems, epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, infectious diseases, cancer, orthopaedics and genetic disorders.
The centre has dedicated Paediatric ICUs (PICU) and Neonatal ICUs (NICU) to provide special care to critically ill children and newborns. The centre is equipped with High Frequency Jet Ventilation (HFJV) for children with complex lung problems and Neonatal Transport Incubator to transfer critically ill babies to the hospital.
For children with neurological problems the centre has state of art EEG facilities, various neuroimaging options (3T MRI, Nuclear medicine, etc), facilities for metabolic and genetic workup, etc. There is a well trained team of doctors including Paediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist, Neurosurgeons, Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeon, Paediatric Intensivists and a fully equipped child development centre.
