TY  - JOUR
T1  - DErmatologic conditions misdiagnosed as evidence of child abuse
AU  - Koblenzer PJ
Y1  - 1989/06/23
N1  - 10.1001/jama.1989.03420240061012
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 3547
EP  - 3548
VL  - 261
IS  - 24
N2  - To the Editor. — 
    The report by Mss Herman-Giddens and Berson1 documenting traumatic genital care practices in children emphasizes once more the many and varied forms of child abuse. The putative numbers are mind-boggling and the harm done is immeasurable. As physicians, we must strive to the utmost to alleviate this intolerable situation, but scientific objectivity must not be sacrificed.I refer to case 3 in the article by Mss Herman-Giddens and Berson. It is clear that the behavior of the father is inappropriate and potentially harmful to the girl's psychosexual development. Examination of the photograph, however, points to a diagnosis of juvenile lichen sclerosus et atrophicus rather than the steroid effect suggested in the text. Of unknown etiology, evolution of the lesions takes place over a period of years, and resolution might not be complete until puberty. Symptoms that include burning micturition and chronic pruritus are common. I
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.1989.03420240061012
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1989.03420240061012
ER  -