Physically abused children's traumas range from very mild to cases with injury to the skeleton and soft tissues. Children's health is often below par and frequently show evidence of neglect, including poor skin hygiene and multiple soft-tissue minor injuries. Bruises from blows and bites; head injuries from blows to the head or shaking; burns from scalding water, heated surfaces or open flames; and fractures are common; poisons and lacerations are relatively uncommon. Injuries to eyes can be caused by blows to the head or by shaking. The most common cause of death from child abuse is multiple rib fractures and lacerations of the lungs, liver, spleen, mesentery, and pancreas.
In the former West Germany, in 1987, one thousand children were estimated to have died from beating from their parents; and some 15-18,000 children a year are severely abused. In France recent surveys have put the number of abused children at about 50,000 a year. Death from ill treatment is estimated at 500 a year. In the UK over 7,000 children were so badly hurt in 1993 that they required medical treatment.