Sexually transmitted diseases recorded in children under age 14

Nearly 20 cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in children under the age of 14 have been recorded so far this year.

Figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that 18 STIs were diagnosed in the zero to 14 age cohort between January and early August.

There were 498 cases of HIV and STIs reported in the 15 to 19 age group over the same period.

Monaghan GP Illona Duffy told Newstalk Breakfast on Wednesday the figures are alarming.

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“These are shocking figures and to hear that there are children under the age of 14 who have been diagnosed with sexual transmitted disease is a cause for concern,” she said.

“My presumption would be these are children who have been taken, perhaps, into care and been examined and, one would hope, are now being cared for because . . . it is illegal for anyone to have sex with children of that age.”

‘Taken into care’

She said the figures are probably related to “specific cohorts of patients and specific groups who have been taken into care and where there has been a suspicion of child-sexual abuse”.

She added: “So, I think this isn’t necessarily a measure of your standard under 14-year-old. And I think it is important to also take that into context when we are discussing these figures,” she added.

Meanwhile, a total of 6,256 cases of HIV and STIs have been recorded this year. The 20 to 24 age cohort reported the highest number of infections (1,896), followed by the 25 to 29 group (1,387) and 30- to 34-year-olds (1,055).

Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STI, followed by gonorrhea and genital herpes.