"The treatment helps the child."

Translation: Die Behandlung hilft dem Kind.

[badbrad17]

why is this dative?

[Katherle]

Usually, you use the accusative case for direct objects and the dative case for indirect objects. However, after a small number of so-called "dative verbs", which include "helfen" (to help) and "danken" (to thank), the dative case is used for the direct object.

See:
http://german.about.com/library/verbs/blverb_dativ.htm

[Amartya1511]

Thanks a lot Katherle :)

[Katherle]

You're welcome :)

[Szab]

Thank you