Overview
Sexually transmitted disease (STDs) are infections that are transmitted through sexual contact. The majority of abuse victims will not have an STD. However, because many STDs cause no symptoms, tests are often done during the medical exam to exclude a silent infection.
Abuse victims are more likely to have an STD if they were abused by multiple perpetrators, abused multiple times, live in a community with a high prevalence of STDs, or were abused by a perpetrator who has high-risk behaviors, such as intravenous drug use.
Certain STDs are transmitted to children during or before birth. A physician can differentiate these infections from infections due to sexual abuse. Some infections, such as those from chlamydia or warts, are more difficult to differentiate. The likelihood of sexual transmission for specific STDs is as follows:
* The physician should consider other ways of transmission (birth process, blood transfusion, etc.)
For more information, please contact Robert Shapiro, MD, Child Abuse Team director at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 513-636-7966. References for this information include:
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases. In Peter, G., ed., Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 24th edition. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; 1997: 108-116.
- Medical Findings in Child Sexual Abuse, in Reece, R.M., ed., Child Abuse: Medical Diagnosis and Management. Philadelphia, Lea and Febiger, 1994.
