Should enterobiasis be considered during the examination of sexually abused children?

Abstract

The medical rape examination has some difficulties and sometimes genital findings can be confusing for the examiner. In this study, the sexually abused children with anal rape were focused on. Perianal reddening due to itching is important. It is known that one of the parasitic diseases that cause anal pruritus is enterobiasis. A person infected with Enterobius vermicularis can occasionally scratch his/her perianal region and make a reddening in the anal region mimicking sexual abuse. The present study aimed to determine the rate of reddening in the anal region due to enterobiasis. 24 sexually abused children and 24 healthy participants were recruited in this study to determine the seen ratio of enterobiasis in sexually abused children by using the transparent tape method. Three of 24 sexually abused children were found infected. No infection was seen in any control group member. The seen ratio of enterobiasis was not significantly associated with sexual abuse history (P=0,234). No difference was not seen in the two groups in terms of enterobiasis. The rate of enterobiasis in sexually abused children was 12.5% in the current trial, a finding that should encourage the practitioners to consider the possibility of enterobiasis infection during the examination of the genitalia. [Med-Science 2021; 10(2.000): 317-20]

Keywords

• forensic medicine
• anal pruritus
• enterobius vermicularis
• injury
• sexually abused children
• trauma