Vaginal Foreign Bodies and Child Sexual Abuse: An Important Consideration

Date

2013

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Western Journal of Emergency Medicine

Abstract

Vaginal foreign bodies are a complaint occasionally encountered in pediatric clinics and emergency departments, and when pediatric patients present with a vaginal foreign body sexual abuse may not be considered. We describe two children with vaginal foreign bodies who were found to have been sexually abused. Each child had a discharge positive for a sexually transmitted infection despite no disclosure or allegation of abuse. We recommend that all pre-pubertal girls who present with a vaginal foreign body should be considered as possible victims of sexual abuse and should receive a sexual abuse history and testing for sexually transmitted infections. (Authgor Abstract)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, sexual abuse, physical examination, diagnosis, case report

Citation

Closson, F. T., & Lichenstein, R. (2013). Vaginal Foreign Bodies and Child Sexual Abuse: An Important Consideration. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 14(5), 437-439.

DOI