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Child Abuse
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Social Family Issues

Child Abuse

Child abuse encompasses physical, sexual, or emotional harm, as well as neglect, and requires immediate intervention if suspected.

Overview

Child abuse is defined as doing something, or failing to do something, that results in harm to a child or puts a child at risk of harm. This includes physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Neglect, which is the failure to provide for a child's needs, is also a form of abuse.

Impact on Children

Most abused children suffer greater emotional damage than physical damage. Potential effects of abuse include:

  • Depression
  • Social withdrawal
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Violent behavior
  • Substance use (drugs or alcohol) in older children
  • Running away
  • Abusing others

Reporting Abuse

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Children experiencing emotional abuse or neglect may exhibit extreme developmental delays, speech problems, extreme passivity or aggressive outbursts, constant fear of making mistakes, and an inability to bond with caregivers. Physical neglect often manifests as persistent hunger, food hoarding, untreated medical or dental problems, consistently dirty clothing that is inappropriate for the weather, and chronic truancy or frequent school absences.
ccidental bruises typically occur over bony areas such as knees, shins, elbows, and foreheads during normal active play. In contrast, bruises indicative of abuse often appear on soft-tissue areas, including the cheeks, ears, neck, abdomen, genitals, and buttocks. Other red flags include injuries in infants who are not yet mobile, symmetrical or immersion-pattern burns, fractures without a plausible mechanism of injury, and marks shaped like objects such as belts, cords, or hands.
Mandated reporters are professionals legally required to report suspected child abuse and neglect due to their regular contact with children, including healthcare providers, teachers, school staff, daycare workers, social workers, and law enforcement officers. These professionals do not need definitive proof; they are legally required to report as soon as they have a reasonable suspicion or good-faith belief based on clinical observations, behavioral signs, or statements made by the child.
Once a report is submitted, intake caseworkers screen the information to determine whether it meets legal criteria for an investigation. If accepted, an investigator conducts home visits, interviews the child in a child-friendly manner, evaluates parental capabilities, and consults medical providers. Depending on the level of risk, the agency may close the case as unsubstantiated, connect the family with supportive community services, or, in situations of immediate danger, seek a court order for temporary protective custody.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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