Sexual abuse or assault is any sexual contact between an adult and a child or between an older child and a younger child. Showing pornography to a child is a type of sexual abuse.

Signs of sexual abuse of a child are not likely to be noticed without an examination of the genital area. Certain behaviors may give a clue that sexual abuse has occurred:

• Age-inappropriate awareness and knowledge of sex or sexual behavior
• Running away from home
• Involvement with drugs or prostitution
• Suicide attempts

If you think or know a child has been sexually abused or assaulted:

• Call the police immediately.
• Remember the assault was not the child's fault.
• Find a safe environment for the child—anywhere away from the attacker.
• Preserve evidence of the attack—do not let the child change clothes, eat, drink, smoke, bathe, brush teeth, or clean up in any way. Write down all the details about the attack and the attacker.
• Get medical attention for the child. Even with no physical injuries, it is important to determine the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pregnancy. To preserve evidence, the doctor may do a special exam (called a forensic medical exam). If you think the child may have been drugged, ask that a urine sample be taken.
• Call the local or national rape crisis hotline for support, information, and advice. A counselor can help you through the process. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer information, advice, and support. Call toll-free: 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453).