A retrospective survey of all the suspected cases of child abuse by thermal injury admitted at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, from January 1977 to December 1981 was made to study the incidence and the pattern of such injuries in this area. Thirty cases of child abuse were identified during this period, which is 2.0 per cent of the total admissions to the Paediatric Burns Unit. The data were further analysed and compared with other published series. A high degree of suspicion and increased awareness of the problem is necessary for diagnosis and management of such patients.