NCJ Number
56880
Journal
American Journal of Diseases of Children Volume: 131, Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 508-513
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE RELATION BETWEEN REVERSBILE GROWTH FAILURE (DWARFISM) AND CHILD ABUSE IS PORTRAYED IN THIS CASE STUDY, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION GIVEN TO PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD ABUSE.
Abstract
THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE CASE STUDY WAS HOSPITALIZED AT 2.5 MONTHS OF AGE DUE TO FEVER AND MALNUTRITION. DURING HIS SUBSEQUENT CHILDHOOD, NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES PERIODICALLY COMPLAINED ABOUT HIS MALTREATMENT BUT NO EFFECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. HE WAS NOT SEEN AGAIN IN THE HOSPITAL UNTIL 16 YEARS OF AGE. AFTER FURTHER INCIDENTS OF ABUSE, HE WAS PLACED IN A CHURCH-SPONSORED INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNITY FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND RETARDED. PARENTS (STEPMOTHER AND LEGAL FATHER WHO DISOWNED PATERNITY) EVENTUALLY CAME TO TRIAL AND SERVED 2 YEARS IN JAIL. HUNGER AND THIRST, AND ALSO FEAR OF PUNISHMENT, INTERFERED WITH THE BOY'S ABILITY TO SLEEP PRIOR TO BEING PLACED IN THE INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNITY. THE BOY'S BODILY SYSTEM RESPONSE TO LACK OF FOOD WAS TO INHIBIT OR STUNT GROWTH RATHER THAN TO EMACIATE. WHEN RELEASED FROM DOMESTIC CONFINEMENT, THE BOY'S CHRONOLOGICAL AGE WAS 16 YEARS. HIS HEIGHT AND WEIGHT WERE THAT OF A BOY 8 YEARS OF AGE. DEPRIVATION PRODUCED A DE FACTO MENTAL INCOMPETENCE THAT WAS REVERSED TO A REMARKABLE DEGREE AFTER HIS RESCUE. HIS SPEECH IMPROVED, HIS ACTIVITY LEVEL BECAME NORMOKINETIC, AND HIS SOCIAL REHABILITATION WAS PROGRESSIVELY POSITIVE BUT SLOW. BY 21 YEARS, HE WAS SUFFICIENTLY SCHOOLED IN PHOTOGRAPHY TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP HIS OWN PICTURES. HE WORKED FULL-TIME AS A HELPER IN A RESTAURANT. OVERALL, HE SHOWED COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGMENT REGARDING SEXUAL ASPECTS OF HIS LIFE. THE CASE STUDY FITS THE FORMULA OF A CHILD FORCED TO SUFFER PUNISHMENT BY WAY OF ATONEMENT FOR AND SHORTCOMINGS OF PARENTS. BECAUSE MUCH BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION WAS GIVEN FIRST BY A RELATIVE RATHER THAN BY PARENTS, THE BOY IS TYPICAL OF ABUSED CHILDREN. THE CASE STUDY DEMONSTRATES THAT GROWTH IMPAIRMENT AND THE SUPPRESSION OF PITUITARY GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYNDROME OF DWARFISM DUE TO CHILD ABUSE CAN BE REVERSED WITH A CHANGE OF DOMICILE. SUPPORTING DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)