Physical child abuse or non-accidental child trauma refers to fractures and other signs of injury that occur when a child is hurt in anger.

The physical signs of child abuse used to be called battered child syndrome. This syndrome referred to many fractures that occurred at different times in children too young to have received them from an accident. The definition of child abuse has since been expanded.

See also:

• Child psychological abuse and neglect
• Child sexual abuse
• Shaken baby syndrome

Battered child syndrome; Physical abuse - children

Physical abuse tends to occur at moments of great stress. Many people who commit physical abuse were abused themselves as children. As a result, they often do not realize that abuse is not appropriate discipline.

Often people who commit physical abuse also have poor impulse control. This prevents them from thinking about what happens as a result of their actions.

The rate of child abuse is fairly high. The most common form is neglect.

The major risk factors for child abuse include:

• Alcoholism
• Domestic violence
• Drug abuse
• Being a single parent
• Lack of education
• Poverty

However, it is important to note that cases of child abuse are found in every racial or ethnic background and social class. It is impossible to tell abusers from non-abusers by looking at their appearance or background.

Next Section

Child abuse Symptoms

Review Date: 01/24/2011
Reviewed By: Jennifer K. Mannheim, ARNP, Medical STaff, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Seattle Children's Hospital; and Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)