Medical Care for Children Who May Have Been Sexually Abused: An Update for 2016

The medical assessment of children and adolescents for suspected sexual abuse or assault includes gathering a history from the child, examination and photodocumentation of bodily and anogenital findings, forensic evidence collection, and testing for sexually transmitted infections, when indicated. Most children will not have signs of injury or infection, and the child and family need to be reassured that an absence of injury does not mean that the abuse did not happen. This article provides an overview of current recommendations concerning the medical assessment, including recent updates in the interpretation of examination findings, sexually transmitted infection testing methods, follow-up examinations or testing, and practice recommendations for quality improvement. Changes in the approach to interpretation of anogenital findings table are also reviewed.