18 cases of sexually transmitted infections recorded in children under 14

“These are shocking figures."

According to recent figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, 18 STIs have been diagnosed in the zero to 14 age cohort so far this year. In comparison, there were 498 cases of HIV and STIs reported in the 15 to 19 age group over the same period.

Speaking to Newstalk earlier this week, Monaghan GP Illone Duffy says the figures are alarming.

“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,” Duffy explains.

“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.”

Duffy explains 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.

According to a report in the Irish Times, 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.