Cutaneous Manifestations of Child Abuse and Their Differential Diagnosis

The interpretation of skin lesions in children that may be due to abuse is often not straightforward, and many reports have been published on dermatological disorders and accidental injuries that were unjustly regarded as signs of child abuse. The skin is the most accessible organ of the body and also the most frequently injured organ in physical abuse of children. The interpretation of skin lesions, however, is not always simple. In recent years, many reports have been published on pediatric dermatological disorders and accidental injuries that were unjustly regarded as physical signs of child abuse. Knowledge of the differential diagnosis of unexplained skin findings is essential for accurate diagnosis and of vital importance given that errors in either direction (false positive or false negative) can have disastrous consequences. The interpretation of skin lesions in children that may be due to abuse is often not straightforward, and many reports have been published on dermatological disorders and accidental injuries that were unjustly regarded as signs of child abuse. This book describes in detail the cutaneous manifestations of the physical abuse of children and devotes particular attention to differential diagnosis. Careful guidance is provided on the optimal evaluation of children presenting with findings potentially attributable to abuse. The numerous images and detailed background information will develop the ability of the reader to assess and interpret the clinical signs of abuse, and to distinguish these signs from other causes of injury, such as accidents and self-mutilation, and dermatological disorders. "Cutaneous Manifestations of Child Abuse" will be invaluable for pediatric dermatologists, pediatricians, forensic experts, and others who deal with the physical abuse of children.