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Teen Health Problems
Acne
Acne is just another term for plugged pores with blackheads and whiteheads. Pimples are the ones that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even upper arms.
Acne usually starts in the early teen years, when the oil glands in the body starts secreting excess sebum (oil). Acne is most common in teenagers. It may be worse for boys because they have more skin oils.
Alcoholism
Teen alcoholism is when a teenager continuously has five or more drinks at one go. Teen alcoholism is usually not taken seriously, because it is often excused as, 'a passing phase,' or due to emotional stress.
Teen alcoholism is also a behaviour pattern that needs to be identified early to avoid serious consequences. The influence of alcohol is genetically passed down from parents or developed from social and peer pressures. Teen alcoholism is very much present, and affects millions of teens every year, even though underage drinking is illegal.
Drug Addiction
Many teenagers experiment with drugs out of curiousity and to find out what the effects are. Some take it for a very short time and then stop. Such groups dont get 'addicted' or dependent, nor do they suffer any lasting effects. Because of the influence of peers, it can be difficult to say no and look uncool. Many teenagers do it to rebel against their parents' rules. Independence is also a part of growing up.
Nicotine Dependence
Nicotine dependance is increasing among the teens. There are many signs to know if a person is addicted or not. One of the signs is the smoking of first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning , smoking atleast one pack of cigarettes a day. Some teens also face craving at times when you can't smoke or don't have any cigarettes. Find it very difficult to restrain from a cigarette for more than a few hours.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a very common sexually transmitted disease in the world. It is a bacterial infection, which can be cured by antibiotics. Chlamydia is actually a silent infection, as lots of people (both male and female) who have the disease, do not even realize it because they do not have any symptoms of the disease.
It can be transmitted by having unprotected oral, anal or vaginal sex.
Depression
Depression is most common in teens and younger children. Around 5 percent of children and adolescents in the general population suffer from depression at some point of time. Children who are under stress, and experience loss, or who have attentional, learning, conduct or anxiety disorders are at a higher risk of developing depression. Depressed teenagers also have problems at home. In most cases, the parents are may also be depressed, as depression tends to run in families.
Eating Disorders
Abnormal eating behaviour is often accompanied by a distorted body image.Psychiatric eating disorders is related to tension, poor nutritional habits and food fads are common eating problems amongst youngsters. In addition, they are on the increase among teenagers, especially the girls. Most teenagers hide these serious and sometimes fatal disorders from their families and friends.A combination of medication, individual and family therapy is the best form of treatment.
Genital Herpes
Teens have a higher risk of acquiring STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) as they are more likely than other age group to have multiple sex partners and to engage in unprotected sex. Moreover, teenage girls are biologically more susceptible to genital herpes, gonorrhea and HIV. This is a common STD spread by a virus.The occurrence of herpes increases with age. The rate of new infections for herpes is highest during the late teens and early twenties.
Genital Warts
Genital warts are sometimes called as venereal warts. They are contracted through sexual contact. They spread by direct, skin-to-skin contact during vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected person. Genital warts is caused by certain strains of the human papilloma-virus (HPV) and is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a curable sexually transmitted disease. The bacterial germs thrive on the warm, moist, mucous areas of the body that include genital tract, rectum and mouth.
Every year around 1 in 4 sexually active teenagers get infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea is one of the most common among teens aged 15-19 as compared to any other age group. Research also shows that nearly half of high school students have had sex.
HIV/AIDS
Teens and young adults are being infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic at alarming rates. This group is at higher risk because of the levels of curiosity with sexual experimentation.HIV stands for “Human Immunodeficiency Virus”. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. A person with HIV may not show any sign for years. Most of the people who are infected by HIV develop AIDS as a result of their HIV infection. A person with HIV can look and feel healthy.
Skin Cancer
When we start exposing to sun as kids, it is considered as a main risk factor for skin cancer. Getting a sunburn once in childhood is estimated to double the risk of getting melanoma (skin cancer) later in life. So, if we can prevent sunburns in kids, the probability of skin cancer and death from skin cancer decreases.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) which is caused by a bacteria. The initial infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection. It can also cause serious and permanent damage to the body if not cured. In some rare cases, particularly where treatment is not available, syphilis infection can cause death. Read on to know more on teen health problems.