Child Abuse

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Reference Desk
• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Child abuse is doing something or failing to do something that results in harm to a child or puts a child at risk of harm. Child abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional. Neglect, or not providing for a child's needs, is also a form of abuse.

Most abused children suffer greater emotional than physical damage. An abused child may become depressed. He or she may withdraw, think of suicide or become violent. An older child may use drugs or alcohol, try to run away or abuse others.

Child abuse is a serious problem. If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, call the police or your local child welfare agency.

Start Here

• Child Abuse and Neglect (Children's Bureau)
• Child Abuse: The Hidden Bruises (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish
• Understanding Child Trauma (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
• What Is Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms (Children's Bureau) - PDF

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Prevention (Children's Bureau)

Related Issues

• Questions and Answers about Memories of Childhood Abuse (American Psychological Association)

Specifics

• Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Shaken Baby Syndrome (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
• Shaken Baby Syndrome (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

• About Adverse Childhood Experiences (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• About Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• CDC Vital Signs: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Abuse (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Alterations of the endocannabinoid system in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury as...
• Article: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Child Abuse Identification and Inpatient Treatment.
• Article: Child maltreatment mortality in Canada: An analysis of coroner and medical...
• Child Abuse -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Glossary (Administration for Children and Families) - PDF

Find an Expert

• Administration for Children and Families
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Children

• Abuse: What If I Need Help Right Now? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Going to a Therapist (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• How to Handle Abuse (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Abuse: What You Need to Know (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Going to a Therapist (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Youth and Teens Page (National Runaway Safeline)

Patient Handouts

• Child neglect and emotional abuse (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Child physical abuse (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Shaken baby syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish