Oro-facial trauma in child abuse fatalities

Van der Heyde, Y; Phillips, V M

Oro-facial trauma in child abuse fatalities

Journal Article

2006

Journal Title

South African Medical Journal

Link to Journal

http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj

Publisher

Health and Medical Publishing Group

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Faculty

Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

Many children die as a result of abuse and neglect each year. Early recognition and effective intervention are crucial factors in the fight against this. Child mortality rates increased in South Africa between 1998 and 2004, with child abuse deaths constituting part of these statistics. Autopsies on children who have died of unnatural causes are often not specific as to the possibility of child abuse. This article presents the extra-oral and intra-oral signs of child abuse from a study of the autopsies of child mortality cases seen at Salt River Medico-Legal Laboratory in Cape Town from 1998 to 2004 with reference to the South African child mortality rates.