Bruising is rare in infants <6 months of age presenting to emergency departments and should prompt concern for trauma and abuse.
Because bruising is rarely observed in very young children in primary care settings, routine evaluations for abuse are recommended whenever a bruise is identified in an infant, except in verified trauma cases such as motor vehicle collisions.
To determine the rate of bruising among infants presenting to pediatric emergency departments (EDs) — where injury status, social factors, and reasons for presentation may be different than in primary care settings — investigators conducted an observational study using a structured sampling approach to evaluate 2488 patients (age, ≤12 months) at three Level I trauma centers. Patients referred because of concern for abuse or neglect were excluded. All patients received full skin examinations.
Bruising was…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; MINDSOURCE
Editorial BoardsThe Quarterly Update: Reviews of Current Child Abuse Medical Research; Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesThe Helfer Society (Executive Committee Member)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportEunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; MINDSOURCE
Editorial BoardsThe Quarterly Update: Reviews of Current Child Abuse Medical Research; Child Abuse & Neglect: The International Journal
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesThe Helfer Society (Executive Committee Member)