Citation

Arora R, Hartwig E, Kannikeswaran N. Pediatr. Emerg. Care 2014; 30(9): 646-648.

Affiliation

From the Division of Emergency Medicine, Carman and Ann Adam Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, 3901, Beaubien Blvd, Detroit, MI.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PEC.0000000000000215

PMID

25186509

Abstract

It is often very challenging for clinicians to distinguish between accidental, intentional, and other causes of bruising such as underlying bleeding disorder in a child with extensive bruising. We present a case of a 17-month-old healthy male who presented to our emergency department with multiple unexplained bruises after an unwitnessed fall and was subsequently diagnosed with congenital vitamin K-dependent clotting factor deficiency. This case illustrates the importance of thorough assessment in evaluating a child with multiple bruises to differentiate accidental from intentional injuries as well as to recognize bleeding disorders, which warrant specific diagnostic workup.

Language: en