Nearly 20 cases of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in children under the age of 14 have been recorded so far this year.

Figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that 18 STIs were diagnosed in the zero to 14 age cohort between January and early August.

There were 498 cases of HIV and STIs reported in the 15 to 19 age group over the same period.

Monaghan GP Illona Duffy told Newstalk Breakfast on Wednesday the figures are alarming.

“These are shocking figures and to hear that there are children under the age of 14 who have been diagnosed with sexual transmitted disease is a cause for concern,” she said.

“My presumption would be these are children who have been taken, perhaps, into care and been examined and, one would hope, are now being cared for because . . . it is illegal for anyone to have sex with children of that age.