3 Injury and the vulnerable patient Flashcards
What behaviour may abused/neglected children exhibit?
Fearful vigilance or frozen watchfulness: unusual behaviour, quiet and not attached to parent/carer.
What signs of abuse may you notice in children?
- CHild seems frightened/withdrawn
- Headlice
- Dirty fingernails, hair, clothes
- Unusal patterns of injury
What injuries might you see in a child experiencing physical abuse?
- Torn frenulum from hitting the face
- Bruised ears
- Torn and bruised fingernail from crush injury
- Cigarette burns
- Vasodilation across the face from being slapped
How should you investigate suspected physical abuse?
- Does the explanation line up with the pattern of injury
- Is injury consistent with expected mobility/motor skills e.g. learning to walk
- Discuss with practice safeguarding lead
What deficiency in infancy can cause an openbite?
Lack of vitamin D around the age of 1 can lead to rickets, this causes enamel hypopalsia of the anterior teeth and first molars, can lead to an open bite.
Define the vulnerable adult.
A person aged over 18 years in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is, or may be, unable to take care of themselves, or unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.
What is neglect?
A failure to meet a person’s basic physical, emotional, social or physiological needs, which is likely to result in an impairment of the person’s well-being.
What is safeguarding?
The protection of adults and children from abuse or neglect, based on consent, balancing autonomy with protection from a risk of harm.
What features may you notice in an adult experiencing abuse/neglect?
- Withdrawal
- Confusion
- Depression
- Fearfulness
- Unusual behaviour
- Poor level of hygiene
- Emaciated, lack of mobility
- Consistent injury
- Evidence of poor care e.g. unchanged dressings
Where will domestic violence injuries usually present?
Surrounding the eye, lips, neck or ears.
