All professionals should be alert to potential indicators of child abuse. However, a thorough history and examination to rule out common medical conditions/childhood illnesses should be undertaken prior to referral to social care or paediatricians for a child protection assessment. Failure to do so can result in unnecessary anger and distress for parents due to the stigma attached to child abuse. This case illustrates how common childhood illnesses can present with findings suggestive of sexual abuse. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘Common childhood illnesses can present with findings suggestive of sexual abuse’