Child maltreatment: promising approaches and new directions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes the key articles in the field of child maltreatment, addressing abusive head trauma, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and global issues surrounding maltreatment. This topic is salient for both general pediatricians as well as specialists.

RECENT FINDINGS: Many articles this year focus on the importance of making an accurate diagnosis when considering child maltreatment, whether in the form of physical or sexual abuse. There is also a focus on understanding the epidemiology of abuse, as some data show a decrease in numbers, which is felt by many in the field to be a misleading impression.

SUMMARY: An appreciation of the scope of Child Abuse Pediatrics requires an understanding of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. The authors summarize notable advances in our understanding of these key areas in a review of the year's best literature.