Genital Warts Child Abuse Signs
abuse is one that is distressing. But it is necessary to discuss it as openly as possible. Of course if a child is seen to have genital warts it is imperative to take action. Get the child to a medical doctor without delay. But it is just as imperative not to jump to conclusions before hearing what the medical practitioner has to say. There have been studies precisely about the subject of genital warts and child abuse. It has been recommended that if a child has genital warts the doctor must also look for other signs that may be indicative of abuse.
Are Genital Warts An Indication Of Child Abuse?
It is a very good course of action for adults who have noted genital warts in a child to contact the social services. Over the years, pediatricians have believed that genital warts are an indication that child abuse has taken place. More recently, these professionals base their decision on more than the occurrence of genital warts in children. There is a very good reason for this and it comes from highly experienced professionals in the field of child abuse.
One such highly specialized professional is Dr Sara Sinal. She is a pediatrician working at the Brenner Children’s Hospital. Cases that involve the abuse of children are her specialty. She noticed that the virus that is the root cause of genital warts is also found in children who suffer from laryngeal warts. These are warts that occur in the throat and mouth. For this reason these children are placed under the care of an ENT (ear nose and throat specialist). Even though these children carried the HPV (virus that causes genital warts) these children were not victims of sexual abuse.
It is true that the virus is exactly the same as the one that causes genital warts but it is in a different area of the body. Because the warts are not in the genital area it is not assumed that they are linked to abuse. Dr Sara Sinal and her colleagues examined just how the diagnosis of child abuse and genital warts was made. Dr Sinal is of the opinion that children who have not been abused can have genital warts. This can happen without sexual contact having happened. She recommends that Social Services should only be contacted if there are also other implications of abuse in children. She has stated that it is devastating for a family and the child to have to deal with a report that is not true. Dr Sinal and her team advise that each and every child must be very carefully examined to completely rule out sexual abuse.
There are children who have genital warts who have never been abused and there are those without genital warts who are indeed victims of abuse. HPV can make warts appear in the mucous membranes. These can be found in the respiratory organs, mouth, genitals and anus. Genital warts are undoubtedly the most rampant of all the venereal diseases in the United States. If an expectant mother is infected with HPV the chances are very great that it will pass from her to the unborn child.
Whether genital warts are evident in adults or children it is vital to get to a medical practitioner as soon as you can. It is best to start treatment right away so the warts do not spread over a larger area. This makes it harder to get rid of. The only one who can decide whether or not a child may have genital warts due to child abuse is a trained medical practitioner.
