A BIOPSIED VAGINAL LESION IN A CHILD ALLEGING ABUSE

In a six-year-old child presenting with vaginal bleeding, considered t o be the consequence of sexual abuse by a stepfather, a colposcopicall y identified vaginal lesion was biopsied. This showed a chronic inflam matory lesion which could have been the consequence of recurrent, self -inflicted, masturbatory injury. Various controversial aspects of this case are discussed.