| Abstract [eng] |
Aim of the study. Based on the latest scientific literature, to assess the prevalence of human papillomavirus in the pediatric population and to determine the diagnostic value of this infection in identifying possible sexual abuse. Objectives of the study. 1. To review the literature from 2015 to 2025 on the transmission routes of human papillomavirus in the pediatric and adolescent population. 2. To identify risk factors and epidemiological indicators associated with the infection. 3. Define clinical criteria and recommendations to help identify the risk of sexual abuse following a diagnosis of human papillomavirus. Methods and materials. A review of scientific literature from the past decade on the prevalence of human papillomavirus and the diagnosis of sexual abuse was conducted in 2025 using the PubMed medical database in English, based on the PRISMA criteria for systematic reviews. Keywords used: “papillomavirus infections”; “child, girl”; “sexual abuse”; vertical transmission”; “horizontal transmission”. Results. The prevalence of human papillomavirus infection among pregnant woman ranges from 20% to 45%. According to study data, the virus is detected in various intrauterine tissues: 7,77% of amniotic fluid samples and 5,55% of umbilical cord blood samples. Among HPV–positive mothers, the virus is detected in 22% – 27% of placental smears and 7% – 8% of placental biopsies. Meanwhile, in the group of HPV–negative mothers, these rates are significantly lover: approximately 3% in placental smears and 0,2% – 2% in biopsies. It has been found that the infection rate among newborns born to HPV–positive mothers varies widely – from 6% to 60%. It has been observed that the incidence of horizontally transmitted infection does not show a consistently decreasing trend but rather a fluctuating pattern. The prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in the genital area was higher among sexually active young woman (47.4%) than among sexually inactive young woman (28.6%). It was found that anogenital warts occur in children who have not experienced sexual abuse. The diagnosis of sexual violence is a complex interdisciplinary process, as clinical signs are often nonspecific. The only direct laboratory evidence confirming the fact of sexual abuse is pregnancy or the detection of semen in the child’s body during a forensic examination. Conclusions. HPV infection in children can be transmitted vertically, horizontally, and through sexual contact; therefore, a diagnosis of HPV infection in a child is not a specific indicator of sexual abuse. The diagnosis od sexual abuse is a complex process that requires a multidisciplinary evaluation. |
