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Physical symptoms in very young children assessed for sexual abuse: a mixed method analysis from the ASAC study.

Abstract：

:So far, a recognizable pattern of clinical symptoms for child sexual abuse (CSA), especially in young male children, is lacking. To improve early recognition of CSA, we reviewed physical complaints, physical examination, and tests on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in confirmed victims (predominantly preschool boys) of CSA from the Amsterdam sexual abuse case (ASAC). We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of the primary assessment using mixed methods: descriptive analysis of physical complaints, physical exams, and STI tests from medical files and a qualitative analysis on expert's interpretations of physical complaints and children's behavior during physical examination. We included 54 confirmed CSA victims, median age 3.2 (0-6) years, 43 boys (80%), and 11 girls (20%). Physical complaints were reported in 50%, of which gastrointestinal and anogenital complaints were most common. None of the children showed CSA-specific genital signs at physical examination. Most prominent finding during physical examination was a deviant behavioral response (anxiety, withdrawal, too outgoing) in 15 children (28%), especially in children who experienced anal/vaginal penetration. Testing for STIs was negative. CONCLUSION:Physical complaints and physical signs at examinations were non-specific for CSA. Deviant behavioral reactions during physical examination were the most prominent finding. Precise observation of a child's behavior during physical examination is needed. What is known • Child sexual abuse (CSA) affects many children on both the short and the long term but remains unrecognized in most cases. • So far, there is a lack of studies on symptom patterns of CSA in male, preschool children. What is new • None of the children showed CSA-specific findings at physical and anogenital examination; STIs were not found in the confirmed victims of CSA. • The most prominent finding was the deviant behavioral response of the children examined, especially in children who experienced anal/vaginal penetration; therefore, precise observation of a child's behavior during physical examination is a crucial part of the evaluation of suspected CSA.

journal_name

Eur J Pediatr

journal_title

European journal of pediatrics

authors

Vrolijk-Bosschaart TF,Brilleslijper-Kater SN,Widdershoven GA,Teeuw ARH,Verlinden E,Voskes Y,van Duin EM,Verhoeff AP,Benninga MA,Lindauer RJL

doi

10.1007/s00431-017-2996-7

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2017-10-01 00:00:00

pages

1365-1374

issue

eissn

0340-6199

issn

1432-1076

pii

10.1007/s00431-017-2996-7

journal_volume

176

pub_type

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Physical symptoms in very young children assessed for sexual abuse: a mixed method analysis from the ASAC study.