Sexual assault and abuse of children.

Abstract

Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children presents a number of problems for the practitioner that are not usually faced when testing adults for the same infections. The identification of an STI in a child can have, in addition to medical implications, serious legal implications. The presence of an STI is often used to support the presence or allegations, or, in some cases, may prompt an investigation of possible abuse. The purpose of this paper is to review the recent data on the epidemiology of child sexual abuse including the epidemiology of major STIs (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, syphilis, herpes simplex virus, Trichomonas vaginalis, and human papillomavirus) and summarize the current recommendations for diagnostic testing in this population.