International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 19, Number 5 > Pp. 349-350

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Audit reports

Child sexual abuse and sexually transmitted infections: review of joint genitourinary medicine and paediatric examination practice

M Kawsar MRCP ^* , S Long MBBS ^* and O P Srivastava MD FRCPCH 

^* Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust, Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 0DZ; The Edwin Lobo Child Development Centre, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK

Correspondence to: Dr M Kawsar, Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust, Lewsy Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 0DZ, UK Email: mokawsar{at}hotmail.com

Joint examination by doctors with complementary skills and screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are recommended in children who may have been sexually abused or have been found to have an STI. Our study showed that criminal proceedings were more likely to be brought in cases with physical signs of sexual abuse. It could be difficult to prove whether sexual abuse had taken place or not with microbiological evidence alone, in the absence of other evidence. Significance of viral STIs in the context of sexual abuse should be evaluated carefully. The review of our practice re-enforced the importance of joint examination of children with suspected STIs.

Key Words: child • sexual abuse • screening • sexually transmitted infections

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