ABSTRACT
Sexual crimes against children differ from those involving adults because of emotional, developmental and physical differences between adult and pediatric victims, the identity of prevalent assailants and legal differences. The epidemiology, medical approach to history and physical, return on forensic sampling, and interpretation of anatomic findings, as well as the provision of medical care is altered by these factors. In particular, consideration of intra-familial abuse with only historic evidence or minor non-acute anatomic changes make sex crimes against children substantially different than the rape of an adult. This Chapter supplements Chapter 86 – Evidential Sampling, adapting adult care for the pediatric population.
