Re: sexual abuse

["Ralph A. Hicks, M.D>" <rhicks@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Shari Ben Natan wrote:
> 
> I would like to raise a subject that I approached two years on this list
> and didn't have much response.  I hope that the reason for this was that
> there isn't much research (if any!) in the field, and not my boring way of
> presenting the problem.
> 
> Anyway, I am going to try again.
> 
> I am the director of a theraputic home for severely abused children (1 yr
> old to 6-7 yrs old) that have been removed from parental home.  Most of the
> parents are either drug abusers or severely disturbed (psychotic, usually).
>  Many of the children have been sexually abused.  In the last few years we
> have had 4 little boys that had been sexually abused by their mother.  All
> of these little boys (ages 4 to 6) had swelling in the breasts at their
> admittance.
> 
> My questions are thus:
>         1. Has anyone else encountered this 'phenemona'?
>         2. Has anyone researched the heightening of hormones in sexual abuse
> (estrogen?)?
>         3. Does anyone have any ideas concerning these questions?
> 
> I would appreciate any comments that people have on this subject.  I have a
> medical student on my staff that would like to do her doctorate in this
> area, so come on, SHOOT!
> 
> Shari
> 
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
> Shari Ben Natan
> Director of Transitional
> Home for Children
> POB 5245
> Beer Sheva, Israel
> sharben@netvision.net.il
> tel. 07 6235155, 053 831184
> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

The one reference I have is:

De Bellis, Michael D., et al.  Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
dysregulation in sexually abused girls.  Journal of Clinical
Endocrinology and Metabolism 78:249-255, 1994.

Hope this helps.

Ralph Hicks, MD
Children's Medical Center
Dayton, Ohio