Medico-Legal Update

  • Year: 2010
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 1

The tell tale of a bite mark – Call for action for pediatric specialists

  • Author:
  • Arun M. Xavier, Amitha M. Hegde
  • Total Page Count: 4
  • DOI:
  • Page Number: 1 to 4

Dept. of Pedodontics and Preventive Children Dentistry, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Deralakatte, Mangalore, 575 018.

Abstract

Child abuse has serious physical and psycho-social consequences which adversely affect the health and overall well-being of a child. Bite mark injuries are one of the several visual expressions of active child abuse and sexual assault. Health professionals ought to be attentive to any and all signs of child maltreatment. This paper highlights the importance of pediatric specialists in recognizing and protecting children inflicted with bite mark injuries.