Prevalence Of Teens With Herpes

Herpes is a very common disease that is very easy to give and receive. In the recent years, herpes has become very common with teenagers.

Generally, there are 19 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections each year with almost half of these cases being individuals aged 15-24.

It is estimated 1 in 5 teens are infected with the Herpes virus.

Teens are particularly vulnerable because, despite sex education, they have several misconceptions about how 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, it is easily transmitted, not only through intercourse, but also through oral or anal sex or by touching an infected area.

Teenagers do not understand the importance of protecting themselves in all situations. Many teens believe that if they abstain from intercourse they are safe from the herpes virus. Additionally, 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.

These are the major reasons why herpes could be prevalent in teens:

1. Teens are more inclined to sexual intimacy nowadays because of what they watch on TV, read from books and observe around them every day. They do not; however, learn simultaneously about proper prevention and protection from STDs. This ignorance leads to herpes infections in teens.

2. Society's tolerance also, of sexual intimacy has a lot to do with the prevalence of herpes in teens. Since society tolerates pre-marital sex and sexual promiscuity, teens are allowed more sexual freedom. This misguided freedom could make them acquire STDs like herpes, HIV, gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

3. More parents are working nowadays to cope up with the increasing cost of living and this usually leaves the teens unattended and without adult company to monitor them.

4. Some infected persons are asymptomatic (there are no symptoms). They would infect persons, (mostly uninformed teens) who are not aware of the modes of transmission of the disease.

It is very important that parents talk to their teenage children about the dangers of STDs and answer whatever questions they have regarding this topic. In the end, the responsibility of preventing teen children in transmitting herpes is the parent’s responsibility. Proper guidance, appropriate parental care and unconditional love would certainly prevent the spread of the herpes infection among teens.

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Prevalence Of Teens With Herpes – The Scary Truth

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