Children With Signs of Abuse: When Is It Not Child Abuse?
Date
2005
Authors
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Publisher
Pathology Patterns Reviews
Abstract
Child abuse is a problem that is frequently
underdiagnosed. Recognition that underdiagnosis of
abuse exists has produced a high zeal for identifying
cases of child abuse, which has inevitably produced
cases of overdiagnosis. Overdiagnosis of child abuse is
as catastrophic as underdiagnosis. In this case, a family
member is often accused of injuring or killing a child at
a time when the loss is felt most deeply. This review
focuses on 1 specific presentation of child abuse—the
child with bruises and bleeding. Many children and
adults have coagulation or vascular disorders that
predispose them to bruise or bleed excessively with
minor trauma. It is very easy for a health care worker
to presume that bruising and bleeding is associated
with trauma, because the coagulopathies that may
explain the findings are often poorly understood. The
clinical cases reviewed in this article show the need for
an extremely thorough analysis for an underlying
bleeding disorder in the bruised or bleeding child being
evaluated as a possible victim of child abuse.
Description
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Keywords
child abuse, Hemophilia, Misdiagnosis, shaken baby syndrome, bruising, Bleeding disorder, medical error, physical abuse, research
Citation
Laposata, M. E., & Laposata, M. (2005). Children with signs of abuse: when is it not child abuse?. Pathology Patterns Reviews, 123(suppl_1), S119-S124.