Physical Examination in Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)

Background: The physical examination in Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a complex medical activity involving evaluation of physical and behavioral symptoms

Objective: The motivation of the study is the usual lack of physical evidences in the examination when the assault is reported

Methods: The methodology used was a review of the newest articles that could be found in PubMed

Results: This research resulted in 593 articles, of which only 61 were published in the last five years. Among these, only 12 articles fit in the profile needed for this study. After a thorough reading of all of them, it was possible to notice that there are many similarities with regard to the characteristics used to describe the injuries found in cases of CSA. In addition to this, the characterization of the CSA as chronic and low reported is also present. Some of the findings that ensure CSA are acute lacerations of the anogenital area or obvious scars, but they’re not so common, then the other findings - bruises, petechiae or abrasions - need to be acutely examined in order to make the differential diagnosis to accidental injuries.

Conclusion: Physical complaints and physical signs at examinations were non-specific for CSA. Precise observation of a child’s behavior during physical examination is need.