Information for Young Adults

Here are some areas of our web site that we think may be of particular interest to young people.  You can, of course, access all the information on this site, using other navigation tools or the search facility.

Sexual health

Have you ever thought about the effects of having unprotected sex and why safe sex is so important?

The rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is continuing to rise in young people aged between 16 and 21 years.  In 2004, young women and men accounted for 74% and 56% of all chlamydia diagnoses and 70% and 41% of gonorrhoea diagnoses, respectively.

• Genital chlamydia
• Gonorrhoea ( Neisseria gonorrhoeae)
• Syphilis
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) - cervical cancer and genital warts
• Genital Herpes
• HIV and STIs

Mumps

Ever thought about the effects of swapping saliva and whether this could be infectious?

Mumps is an acute viral illness transmitted by direct contact with saliva or droplets from the saliva of an infected person. Humans are the only known host of the mumps virus and over the past few years there has been an increase in cases within young people.  Get yourself protected by having the MMR vaccination.

• Mumps
• MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine
• Measles

Meningitis

Why do some types of Meningitis affect young adults as well as babies more than others?
The majority of meningococcal infections occur in infants less than five years of age, with a peak incidence in those under 1 year of age. There is a smaller, secondary peak in incidence in young adults aged between 15 - 19 years of age.

• Meningitis
• Meningococcal disease

Travel health

Are you planning your next big trip away from home before you think about settling down or progress your career?

We are increasingly seeing a rise in young people taking the opportunity to travel.  This does however mean that extra precautions may need to be taken to protect your health.
NaTHNaC is funded by the Department of Health in order to fulfill an agreed set of objectives to 'protect the health of British travelers' by providing up to date advice for health professionals who are advising travelers.

• Travel healthTravel health
• National Travel Health Network and Centre website

Carbon Monoxide

Have you checked that your living environment is safe from this silent killer?

Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless, odourless, non-irritating gas produced during incomplete combustion of gas or fossil fuels due to there being insufficient oxygen present that can prove to be fatal.

• Health effects
• Hazard identification

Mobile Phones

Do you regularly use your mobile phone to take advantage of all those free minutes? 

These webpages provide general background information relating to the radio waves from phones and base stations, typical exposure levels of people using phones and living near base stations and relevant scientific and policy positions.

• Exposure guidelines

Out in the sun

Do you like to be outside as much as possible soaking up those rays?

In the summer everybody wants to be out in the sun, but too much sun can be harmful to the skin and eyes. What should you do to protect yourself from damage in later in years?

• HPA Sunsense advice

Drugs

Have you ever been offered drugs or thought about the health effects that injecting drugs may have?

Injecting Drug Users are vulnerable to a diverse range of infectious and communicable diseases, including HIV, wound botulism, and hepatitis C, which can result in considerable morbidity and mortality.

• Injecting Drug Users (Main Page)
• HIV
• Hepatitis C

Pregnancy

Are you considering starting a family in the near future?

Pregnancy is a very exciting time, but there may be some specific health issues that could affect you that you will need to be aware of to protect yours and the baby's health.

• Rashes in pregnancy - HPA guidelines, information and advice
• Infection risks during the lambing seasonAdvice to pregnant women during the lambing season

Food poisoning

Are you an aspiring chef or have you recently started cooking your own food rather than reaching for the takeaway menu? 

There are many things that you need to be wary of when cooking different foods to avoid giving yourself and others food poisoning.

• Salmonella
• Campylobacter
• NorovirusNorovirus
• Escherichia coli ( E. coli )

 

Students

Are you at University and more into your social life than your studies with health not being your highest priority?

There are many health issues that students should be aware of when they start living independently for the first time and leading their own lives.  Although starting university is a very exciting time for young people there is also some key health advice for people to take into account to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

• Sexual health
• Carbon monoxide
• Drugs
• Mumps
• Measles
• Meningitis
• Mobile phones
• Travel health
  

Last reviewed: 2 April 2008