There are many other medical reports of children deliberately poisoned with drugs by a parent, usually the mother.  From reviewing these cases it's apparent that the "chemically" abused child's mother typically has psychiatric problems of her own.  She is often described as cooperative with doctors who may observe all sorts of nervous systems symptoms in the child, ranging from dizziness to prolonged sleep and even to coma.

The profile of a "chemically abused" child is in sharp contrast to the child who's physically abused.  The physically "battered child" is a youngster who's attacked, usually by the father, in a fit of anger.

In addition to physical and chemical abuse some children are sexually abused or nutritionally neglected.  And these realizations are why health care professionals, when confronted by a child with a continuing or bizarre illness have to ask themselves--"is this child being abused?"  For a copy of this script, access our web site, speakingofhealth.com.  For Speaking of Health, I'm Dr. Steven Andrew Davis for CBS News.

Ref:  Shnaps, Y et al.:  The chemically abused child. Peds 68 119-121, 1981