Child abuse Flashcards
(6 cards)
A child comes into the ER that you recognize from a prior visit about 3 wks ago. They still have diarrhea and have being having recurrent fever. While in the trial area the child has a seizure. The staff is baffled after having run some tests and performed yet another extensive PE. The mother who is the primary caregiver has 3 children under 5 y/o and as you learned from a visit she had with you 6 months ago had a traumatic childhood where she was sexually abused.
What major concern do you have for this young child?
- Munchausen syndrome by proxy
- attempted suicide
- poor; environmental
- neglect
Muchausen syndrome by proxy seems the most likely choice of the 4 given. Young children are less likely to attempt suicide, and although environmental exposure could cause illness the presentation is odd and suspicious. Neglect seems less likely than intentional abuse with the presentation of the child and risk factors of the mother.
A 14 y/o girl formerly a strait A student starts acting out in class and getting into trouble. Strangely she decided she was smart enough to start dealing drugs to make extra cash. She comes to your office for OCP at the urging of her father who’s concerned about her wild behavior. She complains to you while her fathers in the bathroom that her vagina hurts and you notice some healed hymenal scaring. What are you concerned about?
sexual abuse
What are some features or facets of emotional abuse and how would you define it? How does a child usually respond to this physiologically and behaviorally?
Repeated pattern of damaging interactions between a child and one or more caregivers/parents.
Humiliating, terrorizing (threats of violence), corruption, absence of emotional response, isolation, inconsistent parenting.
psych- worthless, unloved and unwanted or endangered
behavior- problems in school, eating, extreme behavior, trouble sleeping.
A young boy comes into the ER after being hit by a car. He is 2 years old and was riding his bike without supervision and without a helmet by himself 1/2 mile from home on a busy street. How might you respond to the circumstances surrounding his injury? What additional signs might help confirm that this wasn’t a one time neglect?
This is parental neglect and should be investigated by CPS. Often injury from lack of supervision, failure to thrive and developmental delay are signs of neglect or abuse.
Dirty kid, that seems withdrawn and depressed.
Why might you want to maintain a working relationship with the caregiver even if they’re abusive to their child?
Assuming the child is not in imminent danger and you have contacted CPS, a working relationship may help you influence behavior and continue caring for the child.
If CPS removes a child from their home what’s next for that child?
Foster care, psychological and play therapy, psychotropic medication. Parenting classes and support for the caregivers.
