Medical and legal implications of testing for sexually transmitted infections in children

Date

2010

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Clinical Microbiology Reviews

Abstract

Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children presents a number of problems for the practitioner that are not usually faced when testing adults for the same infections. The identification of an STI in a child can have, in addition to medical implications, serious legal implications. The presence of an STI is often used to support the presence or allegations of sexual abuse, and conversely, the identification of an STI in a child will prompt an investigation of possible abuse. The purpose of this paper is to review the epidemiology of child sexual abuse, including the epidemiology of major STIs including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, syphilis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), Trichomonas vaginalis, and human papillomavirus, and the current recommendations for diagnostic testing in this population.

Description

Keywords

sexual abuse, sexually transmitted infection, legal issues

Citation

Hammerschlag, M. R., & Guillén, C. D. (2010). Medical and legal implications of testing for sexually transmitted infections in children. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 23(3), 493- 506.

DOI