The Open Infectious Diseases Journal

2009, 3 : 107-117
Published online 2009 December 24. DOI: 10.2174/1874279301004010107
Publisher ID: TOIDJ-3-107

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adolescents

Kazhila C. Chinsembu, *
University of Namibia, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, P/B 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.

* Address correspondence to this author at the University of Namibia, Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, P/B 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.Tel: +264-61-2063426; Fax: +264-61-2063791; E-mail: kchinsembu2008@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Adolescents are the age group at greatest risk for nearly all Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Adolescents are often at a higher risk for acqsuiring STIs because they are unable to conceptualize actions and their consequences. STIs are more prevalent among adolescent women than men, thus two thirds of newly infected adolescents aged 15-19 years are female. For reasons of biology, gender and cultural norms, adolescent females are also more susceptible than males to STIs. Biologically, adolescent women face increased anatomical and physiological susceptibility to infection due to increased cervical ectopy. The clinical presentation of STIs in adolescents should be carefully examined because some conditions are asymptomatic while other unrelated disease symptoms can easily be mistaken for STIs. This review presents some emergent epidemiological data from developed and developing countries that demonstrate the heavy burden of STIs on adolescents. However, more adolescent-specific STI studies are needed worldwide.

Keywords:

Sexually transmitted infections, adolescents.