[How to detect and what to do with child abuse?]

Child abuse is a major public health problem. The consequences including death, but also physical injuries and psychological troubles. To know and recognize the possibility of child abuse is essential for all doctors. This diagnostic hypothesis must be considered alongside all pathologies in varied clinical presentations. The practitioner must keep in mind that an unusual location, incoherent mechanism, a health seeking delay, no painful expression are warning signs and particularly a traumatic injury unexplained in an infant who does not move. To overcome the denial that surrounds these situations, the health professional should emphasize teamwork and not hesitate in doubt to be hospitalized children or at least contact a specialized team.