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Child Sexual Abuse
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Sexual Health Issues

Child Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse of children encompasses a range of non‑consensual actions, often perpetrated by adults known to the child, and must be reported promptly.

Overview

Sexual abuse is one form of child abuse. It includes a wide range of actions between a child and an adult or older child. Often these involve body contact, but not always. Exposing one's genitals to children or pressuring them for sex is sexual abuse. Using a child for pornography is also sexual abuse.

Typical Perpetrators

Most sexual abusers know the child they abuse. They may be:

  • family friends
  • neighbors
  • babysitters

About one‑third of abusers are related to the child. Most abusers are men.

Reporting

If you think a child may have been abused, it's important to report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Behavioral changes can include sudden withdrawal, unexplained fear of a specific person or place, regression in developmental milestones (such as bedwetting or thumb-sucking), age-inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviors, and sudden drops in school performance. Physical signs may include recurrent genital pain, redness, itching, bruising, bleeding, or unexplained sexually transmitted infections. Many children, however, show no outward physical signs, making behavioral changes critical to note.
Stay calm, listen without interrupting, and reassure the child that they did nothing wrong and that you believe them. Avoid asking leading questions, expressing shock, or confronting the suspected perpetrator yourself, as this can frighten the child or compromise an investigation. Let the child know you are going to take steps to keep them safe, and immediately contact child protective services or law enforcement.
If an assault occurred within the past 72 to 120 hours, take the child directly to a specialized pediatric emergency department or Child Advocacy Center. Forensic pediatricians or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners can evaluate for physical trauma, perform evidence collection, provide emergency post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and initiate emergency contraception if appropriate, all in a trauma-informed manner.
Suspected abuse should be reported directly to local child protective services or local law enforcement. In the United States, reports can also be initiated via the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453). In most jurisdictions, individuals reporting in good faith are protected from civil and criminal liability, and reports can often be submitted anonymously by non-mandated community members.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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