Physical Conditions that Mimic Sexual Abuse
Many conditions cause symptoms that may be mistaken by parents and caretakers as symptoms of sexual abuse. The Child Abuse Team at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has identified physical conditions that mimic sexual abuse. These conditions can be caused by a number of factors:
- Non-specific vaginitis: many causes, including poor hygiene, bubble bath, antibiotics, nylon underwear, and bed wetting.
- Vaginitis: many causes, including pinworms, streptococcal infection, and fungus infection.
- Vaginal foreign bodies: may cause bloody, foul smelling discharge. This is often caused by residual toilet paper in the vagina.
- Peri-anal strep infection: presents with anal bleeding and redness.
- Lichen sclerosus: hourglass-shaped area of hypo-pigmented skin surrounding the anus and genitalia, often with blood blister and other skin changes. Bleeding is common.
- Straddle injuries (accidental trauma): abrasions, bruising, swelling of the labia. Occasionally may involve the introitus.
- Urethral prolapse: the urethra protrudes past the urethral opening and presents with a bloody, or blood-tinged, swollen lesion around the top of the introitus. Often, the urethral origin of this mass cannot be easily recognized and it may be mistaken for trauma.
