Evaluating child sexual abuse

Abstract

We have learned much about the medical evaluation of suspected child sexual abuse during the past 2 decades. The physical examination still holds an important place in the evaluation but is secondary to a well-performed history. As the evolving literature increases our understanding, the relevance of various anatomic appearances of the prepubertal and pubertal genital examination will certainly become even clearer. The physical examination rarely is diagnostic by itself, with more than 92% of cases failing to demonstrate either acute or chronic signs of injury. Thus, the 1994 quote by Adams and colleagues, "It's normal to be normal," continues to ring true, now supported by a growing body of pediatric literature.