Children's hospital emergency departments often fall short in their treatment of teenage sexual assault victims, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia analyzed 38 children's hospitals and found that many do not give victims recommended tests and preventive care, including testing for venereal diseases and distribution of preventive antibiotics. Less than half of teenage victims were given recommended tests and only about 1 in 3 received preventive treatment, researchers found, echoing earlier research which found low rates of ER compliance for sexually assaulted adults. The researchers recommend standardized care protocols for teenage sexual assault victims, as well as education to increase awareness of these guidelines. Study abstract