Rubbing with a coin is not abuse
Zuijlmans, C.W.; Winterberg, D.H.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 140(51): 2552-2554
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 9053747 Document Number: 464783
A 4-year-old Indonesian girl was seen with streaky haematomas on back and chest. Because of fever, throat pain, cough and vomiting, her parents had rubbed her with balm and a coin. Coin rubbing is a harmless, traditional treatment for various illnesses which is regularly used in Southeast Asia. The cutaneous manifestations can be mistaken for battering or a bleeding disorder.