CONCLUSION

Child abuse and neglect remains a serious problem in Kentucky. Pediatric abusive head trauma is one of the most serious types of such abuse and the leading cause of death from injury in infants.

It is important for all healthcare professionals to be aware of the risk factors and signs and symptoms of AHT in the patients they care for, since a diagnosis depends on input from a multidisciplinary team. Kentucky offers a 24-hour hotline number to make a report of abuse or neglect, and any person suspecting child abuse is required to report it immediately.

Various resources are also available to help prevent the behaviors that lead to AHT, including Kentucky’s statewide HANDS program. Prevention education by healthcare professionals serves the important goal of reducing child abuse and neglect, including abusive head trauma.

REFERENCES

NOTE: Complete URLs for references retrieved from online sources are provided in the PDF of this course.

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