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Child abuse in Saudi Arabia: Report of ten cases
1Consultant Pediatrician, Department of Pediatrics, MBC-58, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Child abuse cases, including physical, sexual, and Munchausen syndrome by proxy, were identified in young children. Early diagnosis is crucial, as delayed recognition can have fatal consequences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Abuse
- Forensic Medicine
Background:
- Child abuse is a significant concern in pediatric healthcare.
- Munchausen syndrome by proxy presents unique diagnostic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on cases of child abuse treated at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre.
- To highlight the diverse forms of child abuse and their outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of ten child abuse cases under five years of age.
- Analysis of injury severity, type of abuse, and diagnostic timelines.
Main Results:
- Two fatalities, five serious injuries, and three moderately severe injuries were recorded.
- Delayed diagnosis occurred in one fatal case, identified years later.
- Six children experienced physical and/or sexual abuse; four had Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
Conclusions:
- Parentally induced illness requires consideration in unexplained pediatric conditions.
- Vigilance is necessary even when parental behavior appears normal.
- Child abuse encompasses a spectrum of maltreatment with severe consequences.
Abstract:
Ten abused children under five years of age (four males, six females) were seen in King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) between 1989G and 1992G. Two children died, five had serious injuries and three had moderately severe injuries. In one of the fatalities, the diagnosis was not suspected until four years after death, when her sister was diagnosed as a case of child abuse. Six children suffered varying degrees of physical neglect and abuse and sexual abuse. The remaining four children had Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Parentally induced illness should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of unusual illness with bizarre features, even if the parents' behavior appears normal.
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