Name a red flag suggesting child abuse or neglect during a pediatric exam.

• A. Injuries inconsistent with the reported mechanism (e.g., bruises in various healing stages)
• B. Bruises only on elbows after a fall
• C. Adequate nutrition
• D. Normal growth and development

Answer: (A)

A key red flag is injuries that don’t fit the reported mechanism, such as bruises in various stages of healing. When bruises appear at different ages, it suggests injuries occurred over separate times or events, which is unlikely from a single accidental incident and raises concern for non-accidental trauma. This pattern prompts careful history-taking, thorough documentation, and appropriate escalation for child-protection evaluation.

Bruises only on elbows after a fall can be plausible for an accidental mechanism, depending on the specifics of the incident, so this alone isn’t a clear red flag. Adequate nutrition and normal growth and development indicate overall healthy caregiving and are not red flags for abuse or neglect.