Battered Child Syndrome

Synonyms

Abused children; Child maltreatment; Effects of physical abuse; Physical abuse; Shaken baby syndrome

Definition

The multitudes of physical and emotional issues that manifest in children as a result of long term and repeated abuse or neglect.

Description

Battered child syndrome is the name for the combination of physical and psychological problems that are found in children after a history of repeated abuse. Battered Child Syndrome as a concept was developed in 1962 by Kempe and colleagues [4]. They developed the term as a way of explaining a clinical condition found in children who had suffered from repeated abuse [3].

Abuse can occur in many different ways including bruises, burns, broken bones, internal injuries, sexual assault, choking, and verbal abuse [1]. Child maltreatment accounts for approximately 1,400 deaths of children each year and about 14,000 children are seriously injured as a result of abuse or neglect [1]. Indicators of child physical abuse include broken...