[Child abuse and violence as reasons for injuries in childhood: results of a monitoring of children and adolescents in South Brandenburg (Germany)].
BACKGROUND
During childhood injuries are one of the most common reasons for a consultation, second only to infectious diseases. Not as rare as aspected these injuries are caused by maltreatment. The aim of this study is to show the frequency of non-accidental injuries (NAI) in the patient group from a pediatric hospital in East Germany.


METHODS
Over a 12-month period all cases of injured children who needed to be hospitalized for treatment were registered. In a computer based questionnaire various parameters, such as age, sex, social status, and accident details were documented.


RESULTS
A total of 573 injured children and adolescents needed inpatient treatment. In 86.7% of the cases injuries resulted from an accident. In 8.6% of all cases a connection to violence could be found mostly in the form of head and soft tissue injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings show the importance of a detailed and specific anamnesis and physical exploration of children with trauma. Recognition of maltreated children does not only apply to pediatricians, but also to physicians of several specializations.
Geerdts
L
L
Kinderklinik, Carl-Thiem-Klinikum Cottbus gGmbH, Thiemstr. 111, 03048 Cottbus. l.geerdts@ctk.de
Ellsässer
G
G
Führer
S
S
Erler
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
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