A historical overview notes that child abuse has existed for centuries with varying degrees of acceptance by society. Forms of child abuse include physical abuse, physical neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Children who are abused or neglected may share several distinguishing characteristics. The interviewing physician should be aware of these characteristics while taking a history and should carefully note the appearance, attitudes, and behavior of the child. Laboratory studies may augment the physical examination. Prevention of child abuse entails identifying potentially abusive parents by being aware of the factors related to child abuse and neglect. Although no standardized program exists for managing child abuse, physicians should be aware of legal mandates and procedures relating to detection, reporting, investigations, and managing individual cases. Illustrations and 12 references