Tag Archives: Burn

Straight, No Chaser: The Emotional Signs of Child Abuse

April 13, 2016Trauma, Pediatrics/Kids Health, Mental Health, General Health and WellnessBruise, Violence and Abuse, Straight No Chaser, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Sterling Medical Advice, Sexual abuse, Prevention, Infant, Children Youth and Family, Child abuse, Burn, Behind the Curtain, 844-SMA-TALKJeffrey Sterling, MD

In a previous Straight, No Chaser, we provided a pictorial demonstration of the physical signs of child abuse. Unfortunately for many, the emotional signs are even more dangerous. It’s important for you to be able to recognize the subtle emotional cues that could represent a high-risk situation for a child. Too often people take a laissez-faire approach to “abnormally acting” children. Your raising and reporting concerns could save lives.
One very important consideration is that reporting abnormal situations isn’t the same as making accusations. It’s better to think of it as establishing a path for whatever type of help is needed. To that end, today’s post will share information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help you recognize when a child may be in danger. Pay attention because it could be your child that is affected, and it’s not always true that what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.

The Child
• Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance
• Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents’ attention
• Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes
• Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen
• Lacks adult supervision
• Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn
• Comes to school or other activities early, stays late and does not want to go home
• Is reluctant to be around a particular person
• Discloses maltreatment

The Parent
• Denies the existence of—or blames the child for—the child’s problems in school or at home
• Asks teachers or other caregivers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves
• Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless or burdensome
• Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve
• Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of the parent’s emotional needs
• Shows little concern for the child

The Parent and Child
• Rarely touch or look at each other
• Consider their relationship entirely negative
• State that they do not like each other
The above list may not be all the signs of abuse or neglect. It is important to pay attention to other behaviors that may seem unusual or concerning. In addition to these signs and symptoms, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides information on the risk factors and perpetrators of child abuse and neglect fatalities: https://www. childwelfare.gov/can/risk_perpetrators.cfm

Signs of Physical Abuse
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child …
• Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones or black eyes
• Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school
• Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home
• Shrinks at the approach of adults
• Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver
• Abuses animals or pets

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver …
• Offers conflicting, unconvincing or no explanation for the child’s injury, or provides an explanation that is not consistent with the injury
• Describes the child as “evil” or in some other very negative way
• Uses harsh physical discipline with the child
• Has a history of abuse as a child
• Has a history of abusing animals or pets
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
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Straight, No Chaser: The Physical Signs of Child Abuse

April 12, 2016Pediatrics/Kids Health, Trauma, General Health and WellnessSexual abuse, Prevention, Infant, Children Youth and Family, Child abuse, Burn, Bruise, Behind the Curtain, 844-SMA-TALK, Sterling Medical Advice, Violence and Abuse, Straight No Chaser, SterlingMedicalAdvice.comJeffrey Sterling, MD

Given how often this topic is in the news, we must continue to drill certain points home. This Straight, No Chaser provides visual examples of the consequences of child abuse. A child’s body doesn’t care if the wounds were meant to injure or just to punish. The long term effects aren’t limited by family traditions of similar behavior. We need an army to protect children against child abuse. A separate post will discuss the mental signs and consequences of abuse, but to start with, I’d like to help you recognize physical signs I tend to look for to potentially identify victims of abuse.
Symptoms include:

Black eyes

Broken bones that are unusual and unexplained
Bruise marks or lashes shaped like hands, fingers, or objects (such as a belt)

Bruises in areas where normal childhood activities would not usually result in bruising

Bite marks

Bulging soft spot (fontanelle) or separations in an infant’s skull

Burn marks, usually seen on the hands, arms, or buttocks

Choke marks around the neck
Cigarette burns on exposed areas or on the genitals

Circular marks around the wrists or ankles (signs of twisting or tying up)
Unexplained unconsciousness in an infant

If you ever see such things in children, be suspicious, be involved and get help. There are always ‘explanations’ for why things happen to children, but they too frequently seem to defy logic. Of course you can call 911 or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD). You could save a life.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Order your copy of Dr. Sterling’s new book Behind The Curtain: A Peek at Life from within the ER at jeffreysterlingbooks.com, iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and wherever books are sold.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) and 844-SMA-TALK offers. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, like us on Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and follow us on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2016 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: The Emotional Signs of Child Abuse

September 15, 2014General Health and Wellness, Mental Health, Trauma, Pediatrics/Kids HealthSexual abuse, Violence and Abuse, Straight No Chaser, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Sterling Medical Advice, Prevention, Infant, Children Youth and Family, Child abuse, Burn, Bruise, 844-SMA-TALKJeffrey Sterling, MD

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver …
• Offers conflicting, unconvincing or no explanation for the child’s injury, or provides an explanation that is not consistent with the injury
• Describes the child as “evil” or in some other very negative way
• Uses harsh physical discipline with the child
• Has a history of abuse as a child
• Has a history of abusing animals or pets
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of 844-SMA-TALK and http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA). Enjoy some of our favorite posts and frequently asked questions as well as a daily note explaining the benefits of SMA membership. Please share our page with your Friends on WordPress, on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress

Straight, No Chaser: The Physical Signs of Child Abuse

September 14, 2014Trauma, Pediatrics/Kids Health, General Health and WellnessViolence and Abuse, Straight No Chaser, SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Sterling Medical Advice, Sexual abuse, Prevention, Infant, Children Youth and Family, Child abuse, Burn, Bruise, 844-SMA-TALKJeffrey Sterling, MD

Black eyes

Broken bones that are unusual and unexplained
Bruise marks or lashes shaped like hands, fingers, or objects (such as a belt)

Bruises in areas where normal childhood activities would not usually result in bruising

Bite marks

Bulging soft spot (fontanelle) or separations in an infant’s skull

Burn marks, usually seen on the hands, arms, or buttocks

Choke marks around the neck
Cigarette burns on exposed areas or on the genitals

Circular marks around the wrists or ankles (signs of twisting or tying up)
Unexplained unconsciousness in an infant

If you ever see such things in children, be suspicious, be involved and get help. There are always ‘explanations’ for why things happen to children, but they too frequently seem to defy logic. Of course you can call 911 or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD). You could save a life.
Feel free to ask your SMA expert consultant any questions you may have on this topic.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what 844-SMA-TALK and http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offer. Please share our page with your friends on WordPress, Facebook @ SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2014 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress.

From the Health Library of SterlingMedicalAdvice.com: "What are the different types of burns?"

November 4, 2013Skin/Dermatology, Trauma, EnvironmentalWordPress, Twitter, Straight No Chaser (composition), SterlingMedicalAdvice.com, Sterling Medical Advice, Human skin, Facebook, BurnJeffrey Sterling, MD

Well, yes, he’s a Burns, but I don’t think that’s what we’re addressing today. Let’s look at some burns of the traumatic variety.

What’s a first degree burn?
A first-degree burn (superficial thickness) only involves the first (outer) layer of skin, and that layer is still intact. Symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling.
What’s a second degree burn?
A second-degree burn (partial thickness) involves not only the first layer of skin (which has been completely burned through) but the second layer (the dermis) as well. Symptoms include severe pain, redness, swelling, and blistering.
What’s a third degree burn?
A third-degree burn (full thickness) involves all skin layers and may also involve fat, muscle, bone, and nerves. The skin may appear charred or leathery, or it may appear dry and white. These burns are severe enough that complications involving the lungs–from smoke inhalation–may require breathing support. These burns tend not to be as immediately painful due to destruction of nerves. Third degree burns cause permanent tissue damage.
How are burns treated?
Depending on the severity and degree of the injury, burns are often treated with tetanus infection immunization, topical antibiotics to prevent infection, vigorous fluid replacement, and sometimes skin grafting.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) offers. Please share our page with your Friends on WordPress, and we can be found on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.

Straight, No Chaser: Learn The Physical Signs of Child Abuse

August 11, 2013Health PreventionViolence and Abuse, Sexual abuse, Prevention, Infant, Children Youth and Family, Child abuse, Burn, BruiseJeffrey Sterling, MD

We need an army to protect children against child abuse. I will intermittently be discussing various forms of abuse, but to start with, I’d like to help you recognize physical signs I tend to look for to potentially identify victims of abuse.
Symptoms include: