The parents of an infant hospitalised with a brain haemorrhage were remanded in custody for four days on Wednesday, after doctors said they were looking into shaken baby syndrome.

The three-and-a-half-month-old infant was initially taken to Limassol general hospital but was transferred to Makarios hospital in Nicosia due to the severity of its condition.

The parents were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, actions intended to cause grievous bodily harm, exposing a child under the age of two to danger and abusing a child under the age of 16.

According to local media, the police were informed on Monday that an infant with a brain haemorrhage had been admitted to Makarios hospital four days earlier.

Police officers visited the hospital, where they were informed by the intensive care doctor that the child had been transferred there from Limassol after an epileptic seizure.

Medical imaging indicated the existence of an extensive subdural haematoma.

When questioned by the doctors, the parents said the infant had neither fallen nor been injured. They said their older child, aged 7, had thrown an apple which hit the baby on the head.

However, doctors said the trauma was inconsistent with the allegations.

Further examinations did not find any fractures, however retinal haemorrhages were found in both eyes. These findings, in combination with the absence of any external injuries, led the doctors to investigate the possibility of the shaken baby syndrome or violent shaking of an infant.

Philenews said the paediatrician who admitted the infant at Limassol general hospital on September 4 said she had done so at 9.30am on the same day, after being informed of the situation by the family paediatrician, who had examined the baby on September 2. The infant had been referred for treatment with gastroenteritis symptoms.

While still at Limassol general hospital, the infant went into spasm. A subsequent brain scan revealed the extensive subdural haematoma and deemed its transfer to Nicosia necessary.

The infant was examined by a state pathologist in the presence of the police and social services. Once again, findings indicated shaking impact of such violence that it caused brain damage.

After the state pathologist’s conclusions, the police arrested the 40-year-old father and 22-year-old mother.