child maltreatment should be suspected if a child has an intracranial injury in the absence of major confirmed accidental trauma or known medical cause, in one or more of the following circumstances:
the explanation is absent or unsuitable
the child is aged under 3 years
there are also: retinal haemorrhages or rib or long bone fractures or other associated inflicted injuries
there are multiple subdural haemorrhages with or without subarachnoid haemorrhage with or without hypoxic ischaemic damage (damage due to lack of blood and oxygen supply) to the brain.
for the purposes of this guideline, NICE state that to suspect child maltreatment means a serious level of concern about the possibility of child maltreatment but is not proof of it
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