How to know if your child is suffering from sexual abuse

Have you lately noticed some behavioural changes in your child? Have you thought about what the probable reason is? Here is a list of physical and behavioural changes that are indicators of sexual abuse

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Physical Indicators:

1. Bruises, redness, swelling or bleeding in private areas.
2. Blood in urine or faeces.
3. Sexually transmitted diseases
4. Excessive pain or itching in genital area.
5. Regressing to younger behaviours e.g. bedwetting
6. Soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training
7. Do not like getting touched
8. No reaction to painful treatments
9. Untreated medical or dental problems
10. Injuries that do not match given explanation

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Behaviour Indicators:

1. Eating disorders
2. Distant themselves from close relatives, secretive
3. Act weirdly when the abuser comes near them
4. Develop fear for places e.g. bedroom, bathroom etc
5. Outburst of anger
6. Sleeping problems
7. Attempt suicide, self-harm
8. Anxiety or depression
9. Attention seeking behaviour
10. Anti- social activities

If you notice some of these symptoms in your child, guess it is time for you to talk to them and see who has been hanging around them lately.