Pediatria pre prax 3/2013

Sexual disordes in childhood

During childhood and adolescence one‘s sexuality is undergoing changes that are symptomatic for particular developmental stages. Sexual development is a highly complex process in the course of which the basic components of human sexual behaviour are being developed. There is a variety of determining factors that causes inappropriate sexual behaviour, a certain role is to be assigned to comorbidity: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder-ADHD, pervasive developmental disorders, mental retardation, behaviour disorders, anxious disorders, but also a possible development towards paraphilias. During the examination we often detect psycho-sexual immaturity. Childcare in this case requires a complex attitude, long-term monitoring, psychotherapy can be applied as well as motivational and family therapy combined with pharmacotherapy.

Keywords: developmental changes, psycho-sexual immaturity, sexually inappropriate behaviour, paraphilias.