Physical abuse includes the punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or other forms of harm to a child, that is inflicted by a person, whether an adult or older child, causing non-accidental physical injury, ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death.

Signs of physical abuse can include:

• Multiple injuries or fractures at different stages of healing
• Explanations that do not fit the injury
• A high frequency of injury
• Swollen areas
• Bruises, lacerations, marks about the child’s body
• Cigarette burns
• Broken bones
• Puncture marks
• Missing hair