THREE CASE REPORTS: SUSPICION OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND URETHRAL PROLAPSE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Urethral prolapse can be characterized by a circular protrusion of the urethra distally to the external urethral meatus, and its diagnosis is entirely clinical. The etiology is still not completely defined, but there are some hypotheses of clinical causes. Urethral prolapse is also one of the findings in child sexual abuse, however, as a rare condition, health professionals have little experience in diagnosing and distinguish it from other events that occur in childhood. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the importance of the differential diagnosis of clinical conditions that can also characterize suspected child sexual abuse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive study, which presents the report of three cases of urethral prolapse, in which suspicions of sexual abuse were raised in a medium-sized city in Minas Gerais. DISCUSSION: Urethral prolapse is an uncommon condition, but it should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of urogenital hemorrhage in prepubertal children. CONCLUSION: It is essential to correctly characterize the urethral prolapse, its probable etiology and, in the case of suspected sexual abuse, to be investigated by the expert medical authority.