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  • Title: [Unnatural causes of death in children].
    Author: Wilske J, Eisenmenger W.
    Journal: Offentl Gesundheitswes; 1991; 53(8-9):490-7. PubMed ID: 1837878.
    Abstract:
    Of the unnatural deaths in childhood, those following child abuse are among the most disturbing. The incidence of unknown cases is high, although a rising number becomes known with increasing awareness by physicians, but obviously also with higher frequency of autopsies. Fatal physical child abuse is mainly related to head and abdominal trauma, besides meeting worst cases of neglect again and again. Diagnostic differentiation between falling from baby's dressing-tables, washing-machines, bed or rockinghorse--as stated generally--may be difficult in individual cases, but in most cases there is rather repeated abuse, so that the different age and nature of the injuries make it possible to draw decisive conclusions. The casual discrepancy between insignificant external and serious internal injuries again and again complicates discovery and identification of such abuses in time, but also of culpable homicides and accidents. From our point of view, it is imperative to perform an autopsy in every unclear case of death in infancy or childhood for further clarification.
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