In 1995 more than half of all reports alleging abuse came from educators, law enforcement, health and social service professionals and child care providers. About 19 percent of reports came from relatives or from the children themselves. A mistreated child develops feelings of guilt and a loss of trust. Abuse can lead to antisocial behavior, depression, identity confusion and low self-esteem. Neglect severely affects a child's development by causing failure to thrive, malnutrition, serious illness and physical harm.
All abuse can lead to alcohol and drug abuse, destructive behavior and even suicide.
The worst cases of abuse can be fatal. Physical Abuse Physical abuse is the most visible form of child maltreatment. It is physical injury resulting from punching, kicking, beating, biting, burning, or other harm physical harm to a child. These injuries can occur by accident, but if explanations do not fit the injury or if there is a pattern of repeated injury, child abuse should be suspected. Also, if a child has several injuries in different stages of healing, they aren't the result of one accident.