Abstract

MARCOS, Sara Pimentel; VALERIO, Margarida  and  VILHENA, Maria Manuel. Child with multiple ecchymoses …: is it abuse?. Nascer e Crescer [online]. 2015, vol.24, n.1, pp.37-40. ISSN 0872-0754.

Case report: Child abuse is a public health problem; bleeding disorders can mimic some of these situations. We alert to this problem reporting a case of suspected child abuse in a toddler with multiple ecchymoses. The history and clinical evaluation, including coagulation tests, achieved the diagnosis of severe type I von Willebrand disease failing to prove social dysfunction. Comments: Physical abuse suspicion in children with bruising symptoms should raise the concern of a potential bleeding disorder. Laboratory tests should be done on the basis of patient and family history, physical examination and prevalence of bleeding conditions. Nonetheless, laboratory testing indicating the presence of a bleeding disorder does not exclude concomitant child abuse and social monitoring and vigilance should be maintained.

Keywords : Child abuse; bleeding disorder; ecchymoses; von Willebrand disease.

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