[Condylomata acuminata in childhood--pointing to sexual abuse]

The cause of condylomata acuminata and of other anogenitally located HPV lesions in children often remains undetermined. Sexual abuse is a possible cause of HPV infection in childhood. Non-venereal transmission of HPV, such as autoinoculation and heteroinoculation from extragenital sites to genitalia, however, is much more likely in this age group. Histology and HPV typing of genital warts may provide evidence for non-venereal transmission of HPV in children. Identification of the genital HPV types HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, etc. in a child is no proof of sexual abuse. Behavioural abnormalities and a carefully elicited history aid clinicians in coming to reliable conclusions and in deciding whether an HPV infection in a child is sexually transmitted and due to sexual abuse.