A quiet 3-year-old is brought in for a routine check-up when you notice a fresh bruise in the axilla and bilateral bruises over the upper back that appear slightly older. There are brown bruises over his shins as well. His mother said this happened when he fell off of a couch. What diagnosis should be considered?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

No one wants to think that a child could be abused. In this case the bruises on the shins are very normal for this age group with normal activity. The presence of bruises in other areas which do not correlate with the given history are important to notice and should make you consider this diagnosis. A very thorough examination must be conducted to search for other lesions that might be consistent with the use of implements such as an electrical cord, clothes iron, cigarette, etc. A social services consult and/or formal abuse evaluation should be considered. Unfortunately, emotional and sexual abuse do not frequently leave outward signs. It is important to keep an open mind to the presence of these other types of abuse as well.

A Quiet 3-Year-Old Is Brought in for a Routine Check-Up