Inflicted burns are an essential part of the battered child syndrome. Nonaccidental burns (142, 16%) were found in 872 children admitted to the burn center at the Children''s Hospital of Michigan [USA] during a 6 yr period (1972-1977). Of the 1518 cases of child abuse treated during this period, 9% were caused by intentional burns. Family instability and an inability to deal with stress in crisis were important factors in the cause of these injuries.