Curr Pediatr Res 2011 Volume 15 Issue 2 73 Curr Pediatr Res 2011; 15 (2): 73-76 Child abuse presented as orofacial injury Afshan Bey 1 , Nazia Ashfaq 2 and Syed S.Ahmed 3 1 Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, 2 Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, 3 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. Z. A. Dental College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India Abstract. Child abuse is the term used to describe the manhandling or torturing a child. It is a com- mon phenomenon in every class of society of the world. The children are manhandled due to one or the other reason leading to physical and psychological trauma. Although it is a commonly observed phenomenon, but it has been least reported in the literature. It is the responsibility of every citizen to protect and prevent the child from abuse. Identification of the abuse is the responsibility of health professionals. Psychologists and psychotherapist should also be involved for counseling of child and the parents in such cases. We are report- ing a case of child abuse for documentation in the literature. Key words. Child abuse, Maltreatment, Bruise Accepted April 14 2011 Introduction Maltreatment of children is a major social problem which has been given a scientific term of child abuse. It is a state of emotional, physical, economic and sexual maltreatment given to a person below the age of eighteen. In India, like in other countries, there has been no well defined extent or magnitude of the problem. The growing complexities of life and the changes brought about by socio-economic transitions in India have played a major role in increasing the vulnerability of children to various forms of abuse. Thus, it not only includes maltreatment, but involves ex- ploitation and neglect as well. Child abuse and the society Child abuse is a globally prevalent phenomenon and is spreading as an epidemic. However, owing to various cultural, social and ethnic conditions, child abuse is be- coming a major problem in India and other developing countries. There is a need to deal it with caution and de- termination for protection of children and betterment of society. Previously it was thought that there were no such happen- ings like child abuse in India, but the fact is, it exists, but due to certain traditional practices ,which amount to child abuse, is ignored by the society. Preventing child abuse and protecting the child is a chal- lenge. It involves a range of health care professionals, human service disciplines and experts in the area of fam- ily violence. Dentists are also included in this list. Some studies have shown that 50% of all injuries involve the head and neck region, which place the dentists at fore front [1]. Dental care providers are more likely to see evi- dence of physical abuse than are the other health care workers, as it has been reported that oro-facial trauma is present in approximately 50-75% of all reported cases of physical child abuse [2]. Some authors believe that the oral cavity may be a central focus for physical abuse be- cause of its significance in communication and nutrition [3]. Although enough room exists to prevent the child abuse and protect the child, but it is widely believed that the abuse is still being under reported by the health care professionals, including dentists. Child abuse is defined as any act (non-accidental or trauma) that endangers or impairs a child’s physical or emotional health or development [4]. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines dental abuse as a neglect aand the willful failure of a parent or guardian to seek and follow through with treatment necessary to en- sure a level of oral health essential for adequate function and freedom from pain and infection [4]. The indicators that may be noticeable to the dental professional include trauma to the teeth and injuries to the mouth, lips, tongue or cheeks that are not consistent with an accident [5]. Other common signs of child abuse include fractures of