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Review Article Review Article Physical signs of child abuse K. Archana1, K. R. Don2* ABSTRACT Physical abuse is nonaccidental physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child, which is inflicted by a parent, caregiver, or other person who has responsibility for the child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caregiver intended to hurt the child. This article reviews the causes, physical signs and symptoms, risk factors, exams and tests, and prevention and treatment of child abuse. KEY WORDS: Identification, Physical child abuse, Prevention and treatment, Signs and symptoms INTRODUCTION Physical abuse involves physical aggression such as hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, physical harm to a child.[4] neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to Sexual abuse is defined as any sexual act, overt or the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in covert, between a child and an adult (or older child, the context of a relationship of responsibility, and trust where the younger child’s participation is obtained or power.[1] through seduction or coercion). Irrespective of how childhood sexual abuse is defined it generally has Child maltreatment is a considerable social and significant negative and pervasive psychological public health problem in the United States. In impact on its victims.[5,6] 2004, data collected from child protective services determined approximately 900,000 children in the Emotional abuse includes the failure of a caregiver to United States were victims of child maltreatment and provide an appropriate and supportive environment and about 1500 children died due to abuse or neglect.[2] includes acts that have an adverse effect on the emotional Child maltreatment is a devastating social problem health and development of a child. Such acts include in American society. In 1990, over 2 million cases of restricting a child’s movements, denigration, ridicule, child abuse and neglect were reported to social service threats and intimidation, discrimination, rejection, and [1] agencies. In the period 1979 through 1988, about 2000 other nonphysical forms of hostile treatment. child deaths (ages 0–17) were recorded annually as a [3] Neglect is the failure of a parent, guardian, or other result of abuse and neglect. caregiver to provide for a child’s basic needs.[1] The four major categories of child abuse are neglect, physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, and CAUSES [1] sexual abuse. Physical abuse tends to occur at moments of great stress. Many people who commit physical abuse Access this article online were abused themselves as children. As a result, they often do not realize that abuse is not an appropriate Website: jprsolutions.info ISSN: 0975-7619 discipline. 1Graduate Student, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, 2Department of Oral and maxillofacial Pathology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India *Corresponding author: K. R. Don, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, 162, Poonamallee High Road, Chennai - 600 077, Tamil Nadu, India. Phone: +91-9443215893. E-mail: [email protected] Received on: 19-08-2018; Revised on: 21-09-2018; Accepted on: 25-10-2018 Drug Invention Today | Vol 11 • Issue 1 • 2019 189 K. Archana and K. R. Don Often people who commit physical abuse also have not usually subject to injury, such as wounds on the poor impulse control. This prevents them from thinking genitals, on the thighs, or around the eyes. Physical about what happens as a result of their actions. The abuse might even manifest as serious trauma without rate of child abuse is fairly high. The most common adequate justification, such as fracture with minimal form is neglect.[7,8] trauma. In clinical practice, physically abused children might stare at their parents or caregivers and RISK FACTORS appear apprehensive, as if they are waiting for the next abusive event to occur.[9] The major risk factors for child abuse include: • Alcoholism The followings are the factors which help in the • Domestic violence identification of physically abused children: • Drug abuse • Broken bones that are unusual and unexplained. • Being a single parent • Bruise marks shaped such as hands, fingers, or • Lack of education objects such as iron, kitchen implement, cigarette, • Poverty. belt, and bite marks-teeth. • Bruises in areas where normal childhood activities However, it is important to note that cases of child would not usually result in bruising. abuse are found in every racial or ethnic background • Bulging fontanelle (soft spot) or separated sutures and social class.[7,8] in an infant’s skull. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS • Burn (scalding) marks, usually seen on the child’s hands, arms, or buttocks. Face • Choke marks around the neck. • Black eyes (raccoon eyes) • Cigarette burns on exposed areas or the genitals. • Retinal hemorrhage. • Circular marks around the wrists or ankles (signs of twisting or tying up). Lips • Human bite marks. • Bruises • Lash marks. [7,8] • Lacerations • Unexplained unconsciousness in an infant. • Angular abrasions (gag marks). SIGNS AND TESTS Nose Typical injuries in abused children include: • Fractures • Any fracture in an infant too young to walk or crawl. • Displacement. • Bleeding in the back of the eye, seen with a shaken Head baby syndrome or a direct blow to the head. • Collection of blood in the brain (subdural hematoma) • Skull injuries • Bald spots (traumatic alopecia) without good explanation. • Bruises behind ears (Battle’s sign). • Evidence of fractures at the tip of long bones or spiral-type fractures that result from twisting. Intraoral • Evidence of skull fracture. • Frenulum tears • Fractured ribs, especially in the back. • Palatal bruising (forced fellatio) • Internal damage, such as bleeding or rupture of an • Residual tooth roots. organ from blunt trauma. • Multiple bruises that occurred at different Maxilla and Mandible times - especially in unusual areas of the body or • Fractures of improperly healed in patterns that suggest choking, twisting, or severe • Malocclusion from previous fractures. beating with objects or hands. • Other unusual skin damage, including burns or burn Teeth scars. • Fractured, mobile, avulsed, or discolored teeth in the absence of reasonable explanations The following tests can reveal physical injuries: • Untreated rampant caries • Bone X-ray: All of the child’s bones, including the • Untreated obvious infections or bleeding.[7,8] skull, are x-rayed to look for unseen fractures or old, healing fractures. IDENTIFICATION • Magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography scan of the head or abdomen is done Physically abused children might have unusual if there is a skull fracture; bleeding in the eye; injuries to particular sites on their bodies that are unexplained vomiting; severe bruising of the face, 190 Drug Invention Today | Vol 11 • Issue 1 • 2019 K. Archana and K. R. Don skull, or abdomen; unexplained nervous system Impaired Brain Development (neurological) symptoms; headaches; or loss of Child abuse and neglect have been shown, in some consciousness. cases, to cause important regions of the brain to fail to form or grow properly, resulting in impaired The following medical conditions have symptoms development.[15,16] similar to those of physical abuse: • Osteogenesis imperfecta - almost all children with Poor physical health and Adults who experienced this condition have an abnormal (blue) coloring of abuse or neglect during childhood are more likely the whites of the eyes. These children may have to suffer from physical ailments such as allergies, spontaneous fractures or break bones after accidents arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, high blood pressure, and that would not harm the bones of a normal child. ulcers.[17] • Undetected bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, Von Willebrand’s disease, or liver disease can lead TREATMENT to abnormal bruising patterns. The doctor can test for these disorders. A number of treatments are available to victims of • Unusual bruising and scarring patterns can also child abuse.[18] However, children who experience be caused by folk medicine or oriental medicine childhood trauma do not heal from abuse easily.[17] practices such as coin rubbing, cupping, and burning There are focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), herbs on the skin over acupuncture points (called first developed to treat sexually abused children, is moxibustion). The doctor should always ask about now used for victims of any kind of trauma. It targets alternative healing practices.[7,8] trauma-related symptoms in children including post- traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression, and EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE anxiety. Several studies have found that sexually abused children undergoing trauma-focused - CBT The immediate physical effects of abuse or neglect can improved more than children undergoing certain other
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