A sharp increase in Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among young men in the South has led to the Southern Health Board (SHB) issuing a warning about the dangers of sexual activity abroad.
Dr Mary Horgan, SHB Consultant in Infectious Diseases said a clear upward trend among men in their 20s and early 30s returning from holidays, particularly in Thailand, is "worrying".
"I cannot emphasise enough, the importance of practising safe sex in order to avoid contracting an STI and other diseases such as HIV. While there is no gender bias in contracting these infections, this new trend is very much about young men holidaying abroad," she said.
The most prevalent diseases in the region include ano-genital warts, chlamydia and genital herpes. Dr Horgan said most STIs are preventable but warned they pose "a serious health risk"
"Long-term complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy or cervical cancer are associated with untreated infections.
"In some cases, through lack of awareness of STI's, even obvious symptoms may be ignored because they are deemed normal by the infected person," Dr Horgan said.
She advised anyone who is concerned to visit one of the region's two STI clinics at Kerry General Hospital or the South Infirmary in Cork city.