Paeds Cases · child-safety-and-social-paediatrics
Suspected child sexual abuse with a positive STI — forensic evaluation, prophylaxis and safety planning OSCE
Observed structured encounter testing safety triage, trauma-informed history, grading of an STI as evidence of sexual contact, the forensic examination frame, prophylaxis reasoning and a mandated-reporting and safety plan.
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Target exams
RACP General PaediatricsRACP DCEMRCPCH ClinicalRCPSC Pediatrics
Prompt
Station A is a prepubertal child with an incidental positive gonococcal NAAT and a non-offending parent. Station B is an adolescent disclosing an acute assault within the forensic window, requiring prophylaxis, confidentiality framing and a safety plan.
Station objectives
- Grade an STI as evidence of sexual contact while excluding non-sexual routes, especially perinatal acquisition. [1] [6]
- Run a trauma-informed, safety-first evaluation with consent, chaperone and forensic documentation discipline. [1] [2]
- Decide on HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, STI prophylaxis and emergency contraception by risk and timing. [5] [3]
- Frame conditional confidentiality and complete the mandated-reporting and multidisciplinary safety plan. [2] [8]
References8ShowHide
- [1]Adams JA, Kellogg ND, Farst KJ, Harper NS, Palusci VJ, Frasier LD Updated Guidelines for the Medical Assessment and Care of Children Who May Have Been Sexually Abused. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol, 2016.PMID 26220352
- [2]Kellogg N The evaluation of sexual abuse in children. Pediatrics, 2005.PMID 16061610
- [3]Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, Johnston CM, Muzny CA, Park I Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep, 2021.PMID 34292926
- [4]Seña AC, Hsu KK, Kellogg N, et al. Sexual Assault and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adults, Adolescents, and Children. Clin Infect Dis, 2015.PMID 26602623
- [5]Girardet RG, Lemme S, Biason TA, Bolton K, Lahoti S HIV post-exposure prophylaxis in children and adolescents presenting for reported sexual assault. Child Abuse Negl, 2009.PMID 19324415
- [6]Hammerschlag MR Use of nucleic acid amplification tests in investigating child sexual abuse. Sex Transm Infect, 2001.PMID 11402219
- [7]Christian CW, Lavelle JM, De Jong AR, Loiselle J, Brenner L, Joffe M Forensic evidence findings in prepubertal victims of sexual assault. Pediatrics, 2000.PMID 10878156
- [8]Hailes HP, Yu R, Danese A, Fazel S Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: an umbrella review. Lancet Psychiatry, 2019.PMID 31519507