Biomaterial Database

The critical care aspects of child abuse. 1994

J E Monaco, and W G Brooks

Pediatric ICU, Brandon Hospital, Florida.

Child abuse is an all too prevalent disorder showing no signs of subsiding. When injuries from abuse or neglect are severe enough to threaten life or organ system function, the victims are admitted to the PICU for management. In this article, we elucidated aspects of caring for abused children that are unique to this entity. A case was presented that illustrates the complexity of the juxtaposition of social and legal and medical issues that invariably occurs in these situations. A general approach to diagnosis and management of these cases was discussed and several more specific conditions were examined in greater detail. This is an effort to clarify findings specific to abused children and to integrate these with accepted pediatric intensive care practices. Above all, however, we the authors hope to have reinforced the reader's understanding of his or her role as an advocate for these unfortunate children. In guiding them through the labyrinth of medical, social service, and legal systems, we as physicians must not forget their helplessness.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008297	Male		Males
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002649	Child Abuse	Abuse of children in a family, institutional, or other setting. (APA, Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms, 1994)	Abuse Experiences, Childhood,Child Neglect,Child Neglect Experiences,Child Neglect, Physical,Childhood Abuse Experiences,Childhood Neglect Experiences,Neglect Experience, Childhood,Neglect Experiences, Childhood,Physical Neglect, Childhood,Child Maltreatment,Child Mistreatment,Abuse Experience, Childhood,Abuse, Child,Child Neglect Experience,Childhood Abuse Experience,Childhood Neglect Experience,Childhood Physical Neglect,Childhood Physical Neglects,Experience, Child Neglect,Experience, Childhood Abuse,Experience, Childhood Neglect,Maltreatment, Child,Mistreatment, Child,Neglect Experience, Child,Neglect, Child,Neglect, Childhood Physical,Neglect, Physical Child,Physical Child Neglect,Physical Child Neglects
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003422	Critical Care	Health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis.	Intensive Care,Intensive Care, Surgical,Surgical Intensive Care,Care, Critical,Care, Intensive,Care, Surgical Intensive
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man