Child abuse

Child abuse is a world-wide phenomenon that can affect children of all ages; however, the highest incidence of abuse occurs to infants and toddlers.

Four principal categories are defined: physical abuse, emotional abuse (also commonly referred to as psychological maltreatment), sexual abuse, and neglect. Children may fall under 1 or a combination of the different categories.

An ongoing process that can take place in a family, institutional, or community setting, either by someone close to the child, such as a parent or primary caregiver or, more rarely, by a stranger.

Determining whether injuries have been caused accidentally or represent abuse is often challenging. Finding 1 or more suspicious injuries in a child should warrant a full evaluation to look for other injuries typical of abuse.

While legislation such as mandatory reporting varies among countries, the over-riding principle of "paramountcy" (i.e., that the welfare of the child is paramount) is universal.

Child abuse (including neglect) is any form of maltreatment of a child, either by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family, institutional, or community setting, by those close to them, such as a parent or caregiver or, more rarely, by a stranger. They may be abused by adults or by other children. There are 4 categories of child abuse: physical abuse, emotional abuse (also called psychological maltreatment), sexual abuse, and neglect. This topic primarily addresses physical child abuse. For information on sexual child abuse, see Sexual abuse and assault.