title: Two cases of anal fistula in girls evaluated for sexual abuse.
abstract: Anal fistulae are seen infrequently in the pediatric population. They are most commonly encountered in otherwise healthy boys less than 1 year of age. In the scant literature regarding pediatric anal fistulae, the majority of studies and case reports involve children less than 1 year of age. Within a 2-year period 2 school age girls presented to the authors' clinic with anal fistulae without history of a perianal abscess and without predisposing factors. Both of these children had a history of sexual abuse. We believe that in an otherwise healthy school age girl the appearance of an anal fistula should raise concern for the possibility of sexual abuse.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas-Houston, 6431 Fannin, MSB 3.140, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Sheela L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lahoti
authors.forename: Margaret C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: McNeese
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McClain
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Girardet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery