Child abuse: an approach for early diagnosis.

The importance of early diagnosis in child abuse cases has long been recognized and its importance, as well as the potential sequelae of undiagnosed abuse, is addressed here. Because the family physician is in the unique position of treating a family as a unit, he/she has access to a variety of data that should aid in early identification of child abuse cases. By drawing on studies detailing profiles of the abusing parent, the abused child, their interactions, and the injuries associated with child abuse, a model for such early diagnosis is presented.