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Child maltreatment — neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse — affects approximately 750,000 children annually. A recent review article on physical abuse and neglect and a consensus statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect on the evaluation of suspected physical abuse provide the following information:
Poverty is associated with higher rates of child abuse.
Inconsistent or unclear explanation for an injury may suggest abuse.
Suspicious skin injuries, such as bruises, lacerations, and burns should be documented and include high-quality photographs.
Bruises in well-padded areas such as the buttocks, cheeks, and thighs suggest abuse; bruises on anterior surfaces, such as the shin, ar…