Burns as a Manifestation of Child Abuse and Neglec

Authors: Catherine Ayoub Donald Pfeifer

Publish Date: 1979/09/01

Volume: 133, Issue: 9, Pages: 910-914

PDF Link

Abstract

• A multidisciplinary child abuse team investigated children with burns admitted to a general hospital in Tulsa Okla Of the 26 burn cases investigated 14 were found to be accidental seven accidental with extreme degrees of neglect and five nonaccidental burns There are correlations between physical findings and social characteristics which may aid in the identification and disposition of children with burns A multiplicity of injuries suggests that nonaccidental burns are not spontaneous abuse but a planned form of aggression The high mortality of the abused group indicates the seriousness and severity of nonaccidental injuries This experience has also shown that nonaccidental burns in children demand a thorough investigation of medical social and emotional factors

Keywords: