Common Presentations of Self-Injurious Behavior and the Medical Conditions to Consider If New Onset
| Type of Self-Injury . | Potential Associated Conditions . | Potential Associated Injury . |
|---|---|---|
| Head banging | Headache, toothache, sinus infection, ear infection | Detached retina, abrasions, contusions |
| Head hitting or slapping | Headache, toothache, sinus infection, ear infection | Fracture of bones in hand, detached retina, abrasions, contusions |
| Eye poking | Vision loss, eye pain | Eye abrasion |
| Gum or tooth digging or banging | Dental pain, gingivitis | Gum injury, tooth autoextraction, tooth fracture |
| Scratching and skin picking | Allergy, eczema, drug reaction, skin infection or infestation (eg, fleas, scabies) | Infection, scarring |
| Finger and toenail biting or picking | Pain | Infection, nail removal, ingrown nails, paronychia |
| Kicking or stomping | Restless leg syndrome, leg pain | Bruises, fractures |
| Rumination | Gastroesophageal reflux, eosinophilic esophagitis | Esophageal ulceration and bleeding, dental damage, nutritional compromise, precancerous lesions of esophagus |
| Type of Self-Injury . | Potential Associated Conditions . | Potential Associated Injury . |
|---|---|---|
| Head banging | Headache, toothache, sinus infection, ear infection | Detached retina, abrasions, contusions |
| Head hitting or slapping | Headache, toothache, sinus infection, ear infection | Fracture of bones in hand, detached retina, abrasions, contusions |
| Eye poking | Vision loss, eye pain | Eye abrasion |
| Gum or tooth digging or banging | Dental pain, gingivitis | Gum injury, tooth autoextraction, tooth fracture |
| Scratching and skin picking | Allergy, eczema, drug reaction, skin infection or infestation (eg, fleas, scabies) | Infection, scarring |
| Finger and toenail biting or picking | Pain | Infection, nail removal, ingrown nails, paronychia |
| Kicking or stomping | Restless leg syndrome, leg pain | Bruises, fractures |
| Rumination | Gastroesophageal reflux, eosinophilic esophagitis | Esophageal ulceration and bleeding, dental damage, nutritional compromise, precancerous lesions of esophagus |