MATERNAL SEXUAL ABUSE OF MALE-CHILDREN - WHEN TO SUSPECT AND HOW TO UNCOVER IT

Sexual abuse of boys by their mothers is being increasingly reported a nd must be considered in the course of history taking and physical exa mination. Often there is little objective evidence of such abuse, and only a cluster of signs and risk factors may reveal the victimization. Drs Elliott and Peterson list characteristics that can help physician s identify sexually abusive mothers and sexually abused children; they also discuss how to retrieve a report of abuse from a child and asses s its credibility.