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Lesson Four: (Continued)
In addition to the categories of abuse and neglect described above, two
additional manifestations of child abuse or neglect are of increasing
concern to human services professionals:
Shaken Baby Syndrome
This type of abuse happens when someone forcefully shakes a baby or uses
too much force in handling a baby. This is the most common way that a young
child becomes seriously brain injured or dies.
Abandonment
This usually happens when a parent leaves a child at home or outside of the
home without supervision or leaves the child with someone for an extended
period of time without making plans for the child.
| Physical Abuse |
| • |
Fractures, lacerations, bruises that cannot be explained, or explanations,
which are improbable given extent of injury.
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| • |
Burns (cigarette, rope, scalding water, iron, radiator).
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| • |
Facial injuries (black eyes, broken jaw, broken nose, bloody or swollen
lips) with implausible or nonexistent explanations.
|
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| • |
Subdural hematomas, long bone fractures, fractures in different stages of
healing, indicating repeated trauma over time.
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| Neglect |
| • |
Non-organic failure to thrive (child who does not grow)
|
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| • |
Malnutrition (bloated stomach, extremely thin, dry, flaking skin,
pale, fainting)
|
|
| • |
Inappropriate dress for weather
|
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| • |
Poor hygiene
|
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| • |
Unattended medical conditions
|
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| Sexual Abuse |
| • |
Bruising or tearing around genital area or anus
|
|
| • |
Swelling or discharge from vagina/penis/anus
|
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| • |
Visible lesions around mouth or genitals
|
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| • |
Complaint of lower abdominal pain
|
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| • |
Painful urination, defecation
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| Emotional Abuse |
| • |
Small size
|
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| • |
Dirty, unkempt
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Behavioral Indicators of Child Abuse
Children react differently to being abused. There is no one single reaction
that can be clearly associated with child abuse; however, there are a number
of possible behaviors, which are common among abused children.
Physical and behavioral indicators are not conclusive in and of themselves.
They can serve as red flags and alert professionals to the need for further
assessment. While some of these behaviors occur more with one type of abuse
than another, they may overlap.
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