USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, reports that in the United States "about 19 million new [STD infections, other than AIDS] occur each year, about half in young people between ages 15 and 24." Sexually transmitted diseases are bacterial or viral infections that can be passed from person to person. Understanding STDs—their prevalence, their symptoms, how they are passed, and how they can be treated—is an important first step in controlling the diseases. In this book, you'll read case studies and receive up-to-date information on the symptoms and treatments of major STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, Hepatitis B, genital warts, and HIV/AIDS. You'll also learn how to avoid catching the diseases and how people manage STDs for which there is no cure. All of these facts can help you understand what can be done if you or someone close to you has an STD.