Thousands of children suffer long-term emotional and psychological problems because of ill-treatment by their own parents or those looking after them. A small number of these children die following incidents of abuse or neglect. There are four main types of abuse, though a child may experience more than one type of abuse at one time in his or her life. For example the child may be both physically and emotionally abused.

1. Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is when parents or adults deliberately inflict injuries on a child or, knowingly, do not prevent them. It includes hitting, shaking, squeezing, burning or biting. It also includes excessive force when feeding, changing or handling a child. Giving a child poisonous substances, inappropriate drugs or alcohol, and attempting to suffocate or drown a child are also examples of physical abuse. Physical abuse can cause injuries including bruises, burns, fractures, internal injuries and brain damage. In the most extreme cases, physical abuse can cause death.

2. Emotional Abuse

Emotional Abuse is when parents continuously fail to show their child love or affection, or when they threaten, taunt or shout at a child, causing him or her to lose confidence and self-esteem, and to become nervous or withdrawn.

Emotional abuse hurts children very deeply. Children need love, reassurance and praise from their parents so that they can feel confident and happy in themselves. When adults are constantly threatening, angry, sarcastic or critical they can make children feel unloved and unlovable. This can have serious effects on the child's personality and even on their physical growth and development. The child may find it hard to form successful relationships as he or she grows up.

3. Neglect

Neglect occurs when parents fail to meet their child's essential needs, such as adequate food, warmth and medical care. Leaving children who are too young to look after themselves alone or without proper supervision is also an example of neglect.

Children who are neglected usually show signs of being unhappy in some way. They may appear withdrawn or unusually aggressive, or they may have lingering health problems or difficulties at school.

4. Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse takes place when an adult or older child forces a child to take part in a sexual activity, using a child to satisfy their own sexual desires.

Sexual abuse can have very damaging, and long lasting effects. Studies have shown that sexually abused children if not helped may become abusers themselves, or may get involved in personal relationships which involved violence or abuse.

Adapted from an original idea put together and published by NSPCC.