There are both short and long term effects of child abuse. A child or youth who is abused will experience problems that can last a life time.
Abuse can damage a child spiritually, emotionally, and socially as well as physically.
Children and youth who are abused are often depressed and feel fearful and guilty. They have difficulty trusting and suffer from low self-esteem. They have difficulty sleeping, experience eating disorders and often complain of abdominal pain. If they are sexually abused there can be genital injury, STDs, and urinary infections. Many abused children find it hard to get along with others.