Medical Mimics of Child Abuse

Abstract

Objective: Physicians have an ethical and legal mandate to identify abused children so that they may be protected from further harm and are simultaneously required to think broadly and objectively about differential diagnoses. The medical literature is replete with examples of medical diseases that mimic abuse, potentially leading to misdiagnoses and subsequent harm to children and families.

Conclusion: This review highlights some of the common and uncommon diseases that mimic physical and sexual abuse of children.

Keywords: child abuse; child abuse mimics; physical abuse; sexual abuse.