title: Evaluation of sexual abuse in the pediatric patient.
abstract: Evaluating a patient for suspected child sexual abuse can be daunting for many pediatric primary care practitioners. The consequences of misdiagnosis can be devastating. Knowledge of common clinical presentations, both physical signs and symptoms and behavioral changes, is paramount. Sexual abuse allegations must be reported and investigated by child protection agencies or law enforcement. Practitioners must be aware of when and how to report suspected child sexual abuse, in addition to having a basic understanding of the medical examination and findings. With a caring, knowledgeable, and sensitive approach to allegations of sexual abuse, the practitioner can assist the child and his or her family through this very difficult process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nurse Practitioners, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, 6431 Fannin, MSB 3.140, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McClain
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girardet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahoti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McNeese
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003127:Colposcopy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012017:Referral and Consultation