Child abuse is defined as any act of omission or commission that endangers or impairs a child’s physical or emotional health and development. Children are frequent victims of abuse because they are small and relatively powerless in family hierarchy. It may occur at any place like home to streets with any child of any age like few days to few years by anyone from parents to strangers. A child, who is abused, lives with a sense of insecurity & feels unwanted. He feels cheated and becomes short tempered. There are various myths and stigma attached to child abuse which makes it worse to save them. Child abuse is classified into four main categories namely; physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Most of the children suffer with more than one type of abuse. All the health professionals need to be vigilant about common signs and symptoms of the abuse while visiting the families in community or while working in any health care facility.

Keywords: Child Abuse; Maltreatment; Sexual Abuse; Neglect; Battered Child Syndrome.