Child Abuse (cont.)Medical Author:
John Mersch, MD, FAAP
John Mersch, MD, FAAPDr. Mersch received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, and prior to entering the University Of Southern California School Of Medicine, was a graduate student (attaining PhD candidate status) in Experimental Pathology at USC. He attended internship and residency at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACRDr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. In this Article
What actions are viewed as physical child abuse?Physical abuse is the second most frequently reported form of child abuse (16% of all cases). This form of mistreatment is defined as willful (as opposed to accidental) physical injury inflicted upon the child. Physical abuse can be the result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning, shaking, or otherwise harming the child's body. The parent or caretaker may not have intended to hurt the child; rather, the injury may have resulted from excessive disciplinary efforts or physical punishment. There exists a significant controversy regarding physical methods of discipline (for example, spanking) and their relationship to more orthodox forms of physical abuse. A unique form of physical child abuse is Munchausen syndrome by proxy. In this situation, a parent will purposely either invent symptoms and falsify records (for example, fever) resulting in unnecessary tests, hospitalizations, and even surgical procedures. This psychiatric illness of the parent(s) requires a high index of suspicion, and its consideration is part of the investigation of any child with recurrent complaints that are not supported by physical or laboratory findings. What constitutes emotional child abuse?Isolated emotional abuse is the least frequently reported form of child abuse (7% of all cases). This form is felt to be markedly underreported since it can be difficult to detect and document. However, since it is a component of all forms of child abuse, it is the most pervasive of all the previously listed forms of child abuse. There are several categories of emotional abuse and they may occur as unique experiences or together in the same child. They include
Emotional child abuse is also sometimes termed psychological child abuse, verbal child abuse, or mental injury of a child. Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Child Abuse - Experience
Question: Please describe your experience with child abuse.
Child Abuse - Treatment and Reporting
Question: How did you go about reporting any child abuse, or what kind of treatment did you receive for child abuse?
Child Abuse - Prevention
Question: What are some measures you or your community have taken to prevent child abuse?
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