Burns as a manifestation of child abuse and neglect
C. Ayoub and D. Pfeifer
A multidisciplinary child abuse team investigated children with burns
admitted to a general hospital in Tulsa, Okla. Of the 26 burn cases
investigated, 14 were found to be accidental, seven accidental with extreme
degrees of neglect, and five nonaccidental burns. There are correlations
between physical findings and social characteristics, which may aid in the
identification and disposition of children with burns. A multiplicity of
injuries suggests that nonaccidental burns are not spontaneous abuse, but a
planned form of aggression. The high mortality of the abused group
indicates the seriousness and severity of nonaccidental injuries. This
experience has also shown that nonaccidental burns in children demand a
thorough investigation of medical, social, and emotional factors.
