Being a Kid Should Be Fun: Recognition of Non-Accidental Trauma (Live)-Handout: Being a Kid Should Be Fun

Handout: Being a Kid Should Be Fun

Pdf Summary

This presentation, “Being a Kid Should Be Fun: Recognition of Non-Accidental Trauma,” reviews how healthcare professionals can identify, evaluate, and report suspected child abuse. It defines child physical abuse and abusive head trauma (AHT), explains who counts as a pediatric patient, and emphasizes the scope and impact of maltreatment in the United States, including high fatality rates in infants and significant economic costs.<br /><br />The talk describes the major types of abuse—physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect—and notes that they often overlap. It outlines common risk factors, perpetrator patterns, and warning signs by age group, including behavioral, emotional, academic, and physical indicators. For nonverbal or preschool children, it highlights the TEN-4-FACES-P bruising screening tool and “red flag” findings such as bruising in non-ambulatory infants, patterned injuries, frenulum tears, suspicious burns, fractures in different stages of healing, rib fractures, and intracranial injury.<br /><br />The presentation also reviews the recommended non-accidental trauma work-up: careful history taking, documentation of inconsistencies, screening labs, skeletal survey, head imaging, abdominal imaging when indicated, and consultations with Child Protection Teams, social work, ophthalmology, and other specialists. It stresses mandated reporting obligations and the role of the emergency department as a common point of first detection.<br /><br />A case study of an 11-month-old boy with severe head injury after a reported short fall illustrates how acute-on-chronic subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhages, and injuries inconsistent with the story can raise concern for NAT. The presentation concludes that early recognition and reporting can be lifesaving and that clinicians have a legal and moral duty to protect children.

Keywords

child abuse

non-accidental trauma

abusive head trauma

pediatric patient

TEN-4-FACES-P

mandatory reporting

skeletal survey

retinal hemorrhages

subdural hematoma

child protection team