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Blinding keratoconjunctivitis and child abuse

Tuyen Ong1, Peter Hodgkins, Catherine Marsh

  • 1Ophthalmology Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, England, UK.

American Journal of Ophthalmology
|January 18, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Inflicted eye injuries in infants, characterized by lower half keratoconjunctivitis, may indicate child abuse. Prompt medical attention is crucial for these severe, yet often treatable, corneal injuries.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Forensic Medicine

Background:

  • Child abuse is a significant public health concern.
  • Ocular injuries can be indicators of non-accidental trauma in children.
  • Early recognition of inflicted eye injuries is critical for intervention and prevention.

Observation:

  • Two infants presented with bilateral, asymmetrical, inferior keratoconjunctivitis.
  • One infant experienced corneal perforation.
  • Other signs of child abuse were identified in both families.

Findings:

  • The observed eye injuries were nonspecific and affected the lower cornea and conjunctiva.
  • Eyes showed rapid recovery with minimal medical intervention.
  • Confirmed cases of severe physical abuse were noted in the families.

Implications:

  • Unexplained lower-half keratoconjunctivitis in infants warrants suspicion of child abuse.
  • Ocular findings alone are not pathognomonic for abuse but serve as a crucial alert.
  • Increased awareness among clinicians is vital for timely diagnosis and safeguarding children.
Abstract

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