The use of condoms falls among adolescents

BarcelonaThe age at which sexual relations are had has advanced, there is a lack of knowledge in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and the use of condoms has been decreasing in recent years among adolescents. It is the perfect scenario for sexually transmitted infections to become increasingly frequent in minors, which is why Vall d'Hebron Hospital launched a sexual infection clinic specifically for patients between 13 and 17 years old in 2019. In that time, it has already seen 345 adolescents, 41 of whom were seen last year. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a public health problem throughout Europe, and in Catalonia, for the first time, more than 40,000 cases were diagnosed in one year.

Although they mainly affect older age groups, adolescents are a vulnerable population, and professionals insist on the importance of strengthening prevention and sexual education policies to reduce the risk of contagion. "Both boys and girls of very diverse sexual orientations come, and the most frequent infections, as is the case among the adult population, are chlamydia and gonorrhea," explained Maria Espiau, a pediatrician at the infectious pathology and immunodeficiency unit of Vall d'Hebron Hospital.

Since last year, when the Drassanes Exprés program was extended, results can be obtained three hours after the tests have been done, with the aim of speeding up diagnoses, avoiding complications derived from the infection, and promoting sexual education to prevent new contagions. "The treatment, fortunately, is relatively simple and easy to administer," says the expert. In fact, she believes that more patients could benefit from this specific circuit for adolescents that they have developed at the Drassanes International Health and Transmissible Diseases Centre.

In the case of chlamydia, the treatment is an oral antibiotic that must be taken for one week. And in the case of gonococcal infection, it is an injectable treatment with a single dose. Espiau warned that these infections have consequences if left untreated. The expert stressed that alarm or fear should not be generated, but it is important to know that some of these infections can affect fertility, cause pelvic pain, or increase the risk of contracting other sexual infections, which is why it is important to complete the treatment.

Half are positive cases

Last year, the average age of adolescents seen was 16 years, and the main reason for the consultation was to undergo a diagnostic test for sexually transmitted infections, both in asymptomatic patients and in patients who had symptoms compatible with an infection. Adolescents who had been in contact with people with STIs or who had suffered sexual violence were also seen. Of the 41 adolescents who attended the consultation, 22 were diagnosed with an STI, some of whom presented with more than one infection: six cases of gonorrhea, twelve cases of chlamydia, two cases of scabies, two cases of syphilis, one case of trichomoniasis, and one case of molluscum contagiosum were detected.