Highlights & Basics
- Child abuse is a worldwide phenomenon that can affect children of all ages; however, the highest incidence of abuse occurs to infants and toddlers.
- Four principal categories are defined: physical abuse, emotional abuse (also commonly referred to as psychological maltreatment), sexual abuse, and neglect. Children may fall under 1 or a combination of the different categories.
- An ongoing process that can take place in a family, institutional, or community setting, either by someone close to the child, such as a parent or primary caregiver or, more rarely, by a stranger.
- Determining whether injuries have been caused accidentally or represent abuse is often challenging. Finding 1 or more suspicious injuries in a child should warrant a full evaluation to look for other injuries typical of abuse.
- While legislation such as mandatory reporting varies among countries, the overriding principle of "paramountcy" (i.e., that the welfare of the child is paramount) is universal.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
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