A child who's being abused may feel guilty, ashamed or confused. The child may be afraid to tell anyone about the abuse, especially if the abuser is a parent, other relative or family friend. That's why it's vital to watch for red flags, such as:  Withdrawal from friends or usual activities Changes in behavior — such as aggression, anger, hostility or hyperactivity — or changes in school performance Depression, anxiety or unusual fears, or a sudden loss of self-confidence Sleep problems and nightmares  An apparent lack of supervision Frequent absences from school Rebellious or defiant behavior Self-harm or attempts at suicide  Specific signs and symptoms depend on the type of abuse and can vary. Keep in mind that warning signs are just that — warning signs. The presence of warning signs doesn't necessarily mean that a child is being abused. Physical abuse signs and symptoms  Unexplained injuries, such as bruises, broken bones (fractures) or burns Injuries that don't match the given explanation Injuries that aren't compatible with the child's developmental ability  Sexual abuse signs and symptoms  Sexual behavior or knowledge that's inappropriate for the child's age Pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection Genital or anal pain, bleeding, or injury Statements by the child that he or she was sexually abused Inappropriate sexual behavior with other children  Emotional abuse signs and symptoms  Delayed or inappropriate emotional development Loss of self-confidence or self-esteem Social withdrawal or a loss of interest or enthusiasm Depression Avoidance of certain situations, such as refusing to go to school or ride the bus Appears to desperately seek affection A decrease in school performance or loss of interest in school Loss of previously acquired developmental skills  Neglect signs and symptoms  Poor growth Excessive weight with medical complications that are not being adequately addressed Poor personal cleanliness Lack of clothing or supplies to meet physical needs Hoarding or stealing food Poor record of school attendance Lack of appropriate attention for medical, dental or psychological problems or lack of necessary follow-up care  Parental behavior Sometimes a parent's demeanor or behavior sends red flags about child abuse. Warning signs include a parent who:  Shows little concern for the child Appears unable to recognize physical or emotional distress in the child Blames the child for the problems Consistently belittles or berates the child, and describes the child with negative terms, such as "worthless" or "evil" Expects the child to provide attention and care to the parent and seems jealous of other family members getting attention from the child Uses harsh physical discipline Demands an inappropriate level of physical or academic performance Severely limits the child's contact with others Offers conflicting or unconvincing explanations for a child's injuries or no explanation at all Repeatedly brings the child for medical evaluations or requests medical tests, such as X-rays and lab tests, for concerns not seen during the health care provider's examination  Physical punishment Child health experts condemn the use of violence in any form, but some people still use physical punishment, such as spanking, to discipline their children. While parents and caregivers often use physical punishment with the intention of helping their children or making their behavior better, research shows that spanking is linked with worse, not better, behavior. It's also linked to mental health problems, difficult relationships with parents, lower self-esteem and lower academic performance. Any physical punishment may leave emotional scars. Parental behaviors that cause pain, physical injury or emotional trauma — even when done in the name of discipline — could be child abuse.
child who's being abused may feel guilty  ashamed confused  child may afraid tell abuse  especially abuser parent  relative family friend  that's it's vital watch red flags  as:  withdrawal friends usual activities changes behavior — aggression  anger  hostility hyperactivity — changes school performance depression  anxiety unusual fears  sudden loss self-confidence sleep problems nightmares  apparent lack supervision frequent absences school rebellious defiant behavior self-harm attempts suicide  specific signs symptoms depend type abuse can vary  keep mind warning signs just — warning signs  presence warning signs doesn't necessarily mean child being abused  physical abuse signs symptoms  unexplained injuries  bruises  broken bones (fractures) burns injuries don't match given explanation injuries aren't compatible child's developmental ability  sexual abuse signs symptoms  sexual behavior knowledge that's inappropriate child's age pregnancy sexually transmitted infection genital anal pain  bleeding  injury statements child sexually abused inappropriate sexual behavior children  emotional abuse signs symptoms  delayed inappropriate emotional development loss self-confidence self-esteem social withdrawal loss interest enthusiasm depression avoidance situations  refusing school ride bus desperately seek affection decrease school performance loss interest school loss previously acquired developmental skills  neglect signs symptoms  poor growth excessive weight medical complications being adequately addressed poor personal cleanliness lack clothing supplies meet physical needs hoarding stealing food poor record school attendance lack attention medical  dental psychological problems lack follow-up care  parental behavior parent's demeanor behavior sends red flags child abuse  warning signs include parent who:  shows little concern child unable recognize physical emotional distress child blames child problems consistently belittles berates child  child negative terms  "worthless" "evil" expects child attention care parent jealous family members attention child uses harsh physical discipline demands inappropriate level physical academic performance severely limits child's contact offers conflicting unconvincing explanations child's injuries explanation repeatedly brings child medical evaluations requests medical tests  x-rays lab tests  concerns seen health care provider's examination  physical punishment child health experts condemn violence form  people still physical punishment  spanking  discipline children  parents caregivers physical punishment intention helping children making behavior better  research shows spanking linked worse  better  behavior  it's linked mental health problems  difficult relationships parents  lower self-esteem lower academic performance  physical punishment may leave emotional scars  parental behaviors cause pain  physical injury emotional trauma — name discipline — child abuse
child abuse