Hemophilia and child abuse as possible causes of epidural hematoma: case report.

INTRODUCTION Head trauma is an important consequence of child abuse. Specific pathophysiological mechanisms in child abuse are responsible for the "whiplash shaken-baby syndrome", which would favour the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhages. CASE REPORT We report the case of a child who developed epidural hematoma following minor-intensity head trauma. Initial diagnosis of child abuse was made, but subsequent investigation led to the diagnosis of hemophilia A. CONCLUSION Even though epidural hematoma is not closely associated with child abuse, this etiology must always be considered when the reported trauma mechanism is out of proportion to the magnitude of the encountered lesions.