The Role of Syphilis Serology in the Evaluation of Suspected Sexual Abuse

Sexually transmitted infections in alleged sexual abuse of children and adolescents

“…Over the last 20 years, varying rates of STI have been reported in studies of children and young people seen for alleged sexual abuse 5,10–21 . These papers have often been small retrospective reviews focused on selected infections.…”

Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Abused Children and Adolescent and Adult Victims of Rape: Review of Selected Literature

“…The ages of were cited in the tables and included in the statistical analyses but were given a score of 1 on a grading scale. Studies that children were noted as õ14 years [15] For each table, each study's score of 1 or 2 was recorded In the surveys in which specimens from participants were cultured for N. gonorrhoeae, the rate of positive cultures ranged in the results section, along with the reason for the scoring, the age range of participants, diagnostic methods, and the possifrom 1.0% [18] to 4.6% [21]. The proportions of participants with Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in the studies in bility (among infants and children) of perinatal transmission.…”

“…The proportions of participants with Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection in the studies in bility (among infants and children) of perinatal transmission. Since in many studies not all participants were assessed for all which evidence of infection was sought ranged from .42% [18] to 11.1% [21]. In most cases of gonorrhea, patients had genital pathogens, the proportions reported as having an infection were based on the actual numbers evaluated for each infection, not discharge, and several authors stated that in the absence of genital discharge, no culture-based diagnoses of gonorrhea on the total number in the studies.…”

“…In studies that systematically sought evidence of more than one STD in sexually abused children diagnoses were made by culture of vaginal swabs. [15,17,18,21,22,23,26,27], bacterial vaginosis tended to be most common.…”

Syphilis

“…Children with acquired syphilis should be assumed to have been infected through sexual abuse, unless another method of transmission can clearly be identified [213][214][215][216][217]. Acquired syphilis in prepubertal children seldom is reported and is assumed to resemble the clinical course of acquired syphilis in adulthood.…”