Urogenital tract disorders in children suspected of being sexually abused.
BACKGROUND
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is generally defined as child exploitation that leads to achievement of sexual satisfaction. According to data from European countries, sexual abuse of children affects 10-40% of girls and 5-20% of boys.


METHODS
The Medline, and Web of Science databases were searched with no date limitation on May 2015 using the terms 'child abuse' in conjunction with 'urinary tract', 'urologist', 'urological dysfunction', 'urologic symptoms', 'LUTS' or 'urinary infection'.


RESULTS
Awareness of the CSA problem among paediatricians and urologists is very important, because they are often the only physicians who are able to recognize the problem. CSA diagnosis is possible only through the proper collection of a medical history and a thorough physical examination. Urologists have to remember that children exposed to sexual abuse rarely exhibit abnormal genital findings. In fact, absence of genital findings is the rule rather than the exception. In most cases, the final diagnosis of sexual abuse is based on the child's history and behavior, along with the onset and exacerbation of urologic symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
In this article, we present a review of studies and literature concerning urinary symptoms in sexually abused children to clarify the problem for a broad group of urologists. We present common symptoms and premises that can point to the right diagnosis and basic guidelines of proceeding after suspicion of abuse.
Department of Urology and Oncological Urology, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Wojciech
W
Krajewski
Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Joanna
J
Wojciechowska
Department of Psychiatry, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Maja
M
Krefft
Department and Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Lidia
L
Hirnle
Department of Urology and Oncological Urology, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
Anna
A
Kołodziej
child; sex offenses; urogenital symptoms