AAP: Consider blood disorders as well as abuse as cause of bleeding in children

摘要

PHYSICIANS EVALUATING SUSPICIOUS bruising or bleeding in children should consider the possibility of a bleeding disorder or another medical cause before attributing these signs to child abuse, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Physicians regularly encounter pedi-atric patients with bruises or bleeding that may trigger concerns about possible child abuse. In particular, bruises on the skin, intracranial hemorrhage, bleeding from the mouth or nose, or blood in vomit or stool may raise suspicions about abuse.