SEVERE HUMAN BITE INJURY IN A 7-DAY OLD NEWBORN

It is reported about a 7-day-old newborn showing considerable bite wounds in his face. Due to the evidence of blood group characteristics on his pyjamas and by means of a dental impression, the 2 1/2-year-old brother was "found guilty" of having caused the injuries. During a short antibiotic treatment the bite wounds cleared, showing very good results. Jealousy is assumed to be the reason for the incidence. Based on a comprehensive and also child-psychiatric examination of the family, other reasons could be excluded. Similar cases of sibling violence with newborns, partly fatal, are reported in literature. If infants fear to loose the security of their homes, jealousy may lead to severe aggressive reactions.