Signs of Sexual Abuse in Children
- There are various lists of possible physical and behavioral indicators of child sexual
abuse, some of which are:
- Waking up during the night sweating, screaming or shaking with nightmares.
- Masturbating excessively.
- Showing unusually aggressive behavior toward family members, friends, toys, and
pets.
- Complaining of pain while urinating or having a bowel movement, or exhibiting
symptoms of genital infections such as offensive odors, or symptoms of a sexually
transmitted disease.
- Having symptoms indicating evidence of physical traumas to the genital or anal
area.
- Beginning wetting the bed.
- Experiencing a loss of appetite or other eating problems, including unexplained
gagging.
- Showing unusual fear of a certain place or location.
- Developing frequent unexplained health problems.
- Engaging in persistent sexual play with friends, toys or pets.
- Having unexplained periods of panic, which may be flashbacks from the abuse.
- Regressing to behaviors too young for the stage of development they already
achieved.
- Initiating sophisticated sexual behaviors.
- Indicating a sudden reluctance to be alone with a certain person.
- Engaging in self-mutilations, such as sticking themselves with pins or cutting
themselves.
- Withdrawing from previously enjoyable activities, like school or school performance
change.
- Asking an unusual amount of questions about human sexuality
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