STUDIES SHOW THAT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ABUSED SEXUALLY IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR IS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN 50,000 AND 100,000, WITH ONE RECENT STUDY PUTTING THE FIGURE AT 360,000. A MAJORITY OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES AND USUALLY CAUSED BY ADULT, MEMBERS OF THE CHILD'S FAMILY OR RELATIVES OR FAMILY FRIENDS. THE VICTIM IS USUALLY A GIRL AVERAGING 11 YEARS OF AGE. FINDINGS SHOW THAT INCEST HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE PAST 25 YEARS, WITH A CALIFORNIA PROGRAM REPORTING A NATIONAL INCIDENCE OF OVER 50,000 NEW CASES PER YEAR. THE PREDOMINANT TYPE OF INCEST OCCURS IN FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIPS. FOR MANY CHILDREN THE INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP BEGINS AT A VERY EARLY AGE AND CONTINUES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THE ARTICLE ALSO DISCUSSES THE EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF SEXUAL MOLESTATION ON THE CHILD AND REJECTS THE THEORY THAT USUALLY THE CHILD--THROUGH SEDUCTION--IS THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SEXUAL ABUSE. ALTHOUGH A GREAT DEAL REMAINS TO BE LEARNED ABOUT THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION, PHYSICIANS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, PROTECTIVE SERVICE WORKERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL MUST IMPROVE THEIR RESPONSES TO CHILD VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION WILL NOT ONLY DECREASE THE CONFUSIONS AND TRAUMA SUFFERED BY THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY BUT ALSO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR THE MANY CHILDREN AT RISK. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (MJW)