Child Abuse

Medical Author:

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.

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Medical Editor:

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Dr. Roxanne Dryden-Edwards is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She is a former Chair of the Committee on Developmental Disabilities for the American Psychiatric Association, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and Medical Director of the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, Maryland.

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• Child Abuse Introduction
• Child Sexual Abuse and Pedophilia
• Physical Abuse, Child Neglect, and Emotional Neglect
• Failure to Thrive and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
• Basic Parenting Skills
• Reporting Abuse
• Abuse and the Law
• Differing Cultural Norms for Child Rearing
• Prevention of Child Abuse
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Child abuse is defined as a variety of harmful behaviors directed against children. It can take many forms. Child abuse in general is a psychological problem or perversion of the abuser. The abuser is referred to as the perpetrator of abuse.

• Child abuse includes the following conditions:
• Child sexual abuse
• Pedophilia
• Physical abuse
• Child neglect
• Emotional neglect and abuse
• Failure to thrive
• Munchausen by proxy syndrome

The descriptions of child abuse in the next section are intended for people who have questions about abuse, what it is, and how it may present itself. Although some cases of child abuse are obvious, many are not. Early recognition of child abuse tendencies and intervention at the point of recognition is the only way to avoid the liability of criminal prosecution.

These descriptions may help you identify abuse in its various forms. You will also find information about what you can do if you observe child abuse or if you are a parent dealing with problems that are straining your capacity to cope with the parenting experience.

If you think you are acting in an abusive way or are having a difficult time with your children or yourself as a parent, you may have identified a tendency to be abusive. These tendencies can include the following:

• Excessive and loud verbal confrontation
• Excessive corporal punishment
• Sexual feelings or excessive feelings of anger about children

Tendencies can be treated more effectively than the frank abusive behavior that can evolve from a tendency. You will want to seek help early to avoid the tendency evolving into an act of abuse.

If you observe child abuse in others, you are obligated to report the abuse to the police or medical authorities.

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