Medical Child Abuse
Introduction Medical child abuse (MCA) is defined as, “A child receiving unnecessary and harmful or potentially harmful medical care at the instigation of a caretaker.” MCA stands alongside physical abuse,…
PEDIATRICS
Injuries Resulting from Falls
Introduction Short falls causing minor injury occur very frequently in infants and children. Long falls causing more serious injury are not rare. Serious inflicted injuries are often falsely attributed to…
Detecting Drugs in Infants and Children
Introduction Drug screening facilitates the accurate assessment of the presence or absence of common xenobiotics in vivo. No drug screening methodology can or should replace the meticulous history, the physical…
Dental Neglect
Introduction According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, “Dental neglect is willful failure of a parent or guardian to seek or follow through with treatment necessary to ensure a…
Failure to Thrive
Introduction For many clinicians, dealing with a child who is failing to thrive can invoke a complex assortment of emotions, ranging from dread to excitement. Dread arises because the evaluation…
Definitions and Categorization of Child Neglect
Introduction Today as we embark upon a new pediatric subspecialty, Child Abuse Pediatrics, it is impressive to look back and realize that Dr. C. Henry Kempe first acknowledged the existence…
Substance Abuse and Child Abuse
Historical Background Association of child abuse and parental substance abuse is glimpsed in the works of William Shakespeare and in lithographic works of the early eighteenth century, well before Henry…
Effects of Abuse and Neglect on Brain Development
Supported by NIMH grants K24 MH071434 (PI: Dr. De Bellis) and R01 MH063407 (PI: Dr. De Bellis). Introduction Child abuse and neglect are forms of interpersonal violence that can have…
Psychological Impact on and Treatment of Children Who Witness Domestic Violence
Introduction It is well established that exposure to domestic violence has a significant negative impact on children’s development, affecting their emotional, social, and cognitive functioning and interfering with their ability…
Outcome of Abusive Head Trauma
Acknowledgements: Preparation of this chapter was supported in part by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke grants R01 NS 46308, R01 NS 29462, and Department of Education grant H133G040279….
