Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A. Overview
1. Types of child and elder (persons aged 65 and over) abuse
include physical abuse, emotional or physical neglect, and
sexual abuse. The elderly may also be exploited for
monetary gain.
2. Abuse-related injuries must be differentiated from injuries
obtained during normal activity. Examples of accidental
(i.e., non-abuse) injuries in children include bruises and
scrapes on bony prominences (e.g., chin, forehead, knees,
elbows) or, in the elderly, bruising on extensor surfaces of
the limbs.
3. Occurrence of abuse and characteristics and signs that
indicate neglect and abuse are shown in Table 20-1.
B. Sequelae of child abuse
1. Children who are being abused often seem sad, show
behavioral changes (e.g., are no longer outgoing and
friendly), and do poorly in school.
2. Adults who were abused as children are more likely to
A. Occurrence
1. Domestic abuse is a common reason women come to a
hospital emergency room. The abuse may be physical or
sexual and the abuser is almost always male.