THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE MALTREATMENT SYNDROME IN CHILDREN

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Abstract
The maltreatment of children is a disease affecting the child and the parents. It is difficult to accept the fact that in our society today inhuman cruelty to children appears to be rapidly increasing. The perpetrators of these crimes are, for the most part, not strangers but the parents themselves. In 1968, in New York City, there were 956 cases of abuse reported. In 1969, there were 1,600 and in 1970, the incidence rose to approximately 3,000 cases. The number of neglected children during this time has been noted to be approximately 35,000. Within the period 1966 to 1970, there has been a total percent increase of 549 in reported cases of child abuse to New York's Central Registry. It is most important for all of mandated sources under the present child abuse law–especially the physician in the hospital–to be able to recognize situations in which abuse or neglect may exist. It is not necessary for a physician to be absolutely sure about any abuse or neglect, as the law clearly states that cases of suspicion must also be reported. This disease, if not properly managed, leads to critical consequences. It is estimated that one out of every two battered children dies after being returned to his parents. Many of these battered children, if they survive amid approach adolescence, begin to show signs of pyschological and emotional disturbances reported as irreversible in most cases. There has been expressed concern that the probable future tendency of abused children is to become the future battering Parent or the hard-core criminal responsible for crimes and violence in our society.
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