by Josephine Polifroni

Created on: November 04, 2008   Last Updated: November 13, 2008

Generally, there are 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections each year. Almost half of these cases are aged 15-24. Teens are particularly vulnerable because, despite sex education, they have several misconceptions about how these diseases are contracted, how to protect themselves and how determine if they are ill.

Herpes is a viral infection that is not curable. There are two herpes simplex viruses, type 1 and 2. HSV-1 causes fever blisters or cold sores on the face or lips and HSV-2 causes genital herpes. Once contracted an infected person can pass on the infection to sexual partners, or in the case of a pregnant woman, to her newborn child, where it can be fatal. It is easily transmitted, not only through intercourse, but also through oral or anal sex or by touching an infected area.

Many teens believe that if they abstain from intercourse they are safe from disease. Many parents do not realize that even if their teen has taken an abstinence pledge they may be indulging in other forms of sexual intimacy and while these behaviors may not result in pregnancy, although this is not certain either, there is every risk of transmitting or contracting an STD.

A report issued by the CDC, in the US, in 2004 stated type 2 herpes had declined by 74% among 14-19 year-olds teenagers since the 1990's. Although US statistics on whether the disease is on the rise among teens is not easily found, partly because some states do not require reporting cases of genital herpes as they do other STDs, it is estimated 1 in 5 teens are infected with the virus. A report issued in the UK in 2007, reports a 9% increase in genital herpes in young people with a 16% rise among girl aged 16 to 19.

While symptoms can manifest 4-5 days after exposure, they may not appear for weeks, months or years later. These may include flu-like symptoms, fever, fatigue, aches and pains as well as tingling, itching and small blisters in the genital area. The appearance of blisters is called an outbreak but only 20% of those infected have outbreaks, meaning 80% of those infected can pass on the disease without even realizing they are contagious.

Although abstinence programs have been flogged in the US as a mainstay of sex education and many teens take an abstinence pledge, STDs are on the rise. Many teens are convinced they are living up to their pledge if they refrain from intercourse and do not realize how easily genital herpes can be passed by other intimate behaviors. Ironically, true abstinence

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