Transmissão de verrugas anogenitais em crianças e associação com abuso sexual

INTRODUCTION: the incidence of anogenital condyloma acuminata in children shows remarkable increase in the last two decades, as well as by its association with sexual abuse. However, this relationship presents controversies regarding the etiology of infection, which makes answering challenging, particularly in legal-ethical aspects. OBJECTIVE: review of the literature about HPV transmission in children and relationship with sexual abuse. METHODS: synthesis of data from the query to Journal Citation Reports (JCR-ISI), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline), Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo) and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (Lilacs). MeSH descriptors were used Terms with syntax (HPV [All Fields]) AND ("Child Sexual Abuse," [MeSH Terms]). Relevant articles between 1989 and 2009 were selected. Legal-ethical aspects were consulted in the criminal law and Brazilian Child and Adolescent Statute. RESULTS: different forms of non-sexual transmission of HPV in children are documented, including the vertical transmission, self and hetero inoculation of cutaneous warts, and acquisition by instruments. Studies are conflicting as to the applicability of HPV-DNA to differentiate the sexual transmission and not sexual anogenital warts. CONCLUSION: evidence indicates that in children under two years non-sexual transmission of HPV should be strongly considered in the absence of genital lesions, another STD, or consistent history of abuse. The likelihood of association between HPV and sexual abuse increases directly with age, especially after five years.