Illustrates how a lack of understanding of traditional healing remedies can lead to accusations of child abuse that may not be warranted. During routine pediatric exams, cigarette-like burn scars were discovered on the lower trunk and abdomen of 6 Southeast Asian refugee children. When their parents were questioned, they sheepishly replied that the burns were the result of therapy applied by folk medical practitioners to treat abdominal pain or fever. Traditional folk remedies involve placing burning materials (herbs or, in these cases, cigarettes) on the skin near the problem area or at points on the body that represent the dysfunctional organ. Because the parents freely and consistently gave the same explanation for the injuries, child abuse was excluded. The author concludes that the injuries were administered by caring families acting according to their cultural beliefs to benefit their children’s health; and that Western physicians need to recognize the context of these injuries so as to avoid inappropriate accusations of child abuse. At the same time, just because a practice is culturally sanctioned does not mean it cannot be harmful. Thus, physicians and other practitioner need to balance sensitivity to cultural differences with concern for the child’s well-being.
