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Press Releases Saturday 5 December 1998
No 7172 Volume 317

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(1) PAEDIATRICIANS SOMETIMES FAIL TO DIAGNOSE CHILD ABUSE

(Subdural haemorrhages in infants: population based study)
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/317/7172/1558

(Subdural haemorrhages in infants: almost all are due to abuse but abuse is
often not recognised)
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/317/7172/1538

This week�s BMJ publishes a study of 33 children with subdural haemorrhage
in South Wales and south west England. Written by Dr Sandeep Jayawant and
colleagues from the University of Wales College of Medicine, and Southmead
and Frenchay Hospitals in Bristol, the study finds that in most cases the
cause of the injury is abuse. The prognosis for infants suffering these
injuries is very poor.

The authors express concern that such cases are not being investigated
fully and that the high probability of child abuse is not being recognised.
They therefore propose that the clinical investigation of subdural
haemorrhages should be more comprehensive.

In an accompanying editorial Ben Lloyd from the Royal Free Hospital in
London argues that if British paediatricians do not recognise child abuse,
no action will be taken to protect the child and the child�s siblings from
further assault.

Contact:
Dr Alison Kemp, Senior Lecturer,
Department of Child Health,
University of Wales College of Medicine,
Academic Centre, Llandough Hospital, Penarth,
Vale of Glamorgan
email: kempam{at}cardiff.ac.uk