5,000 children under the age of consent were diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections last year... and some of them were aged as young as ELEVEN

More than 5,000 children under the age of legal consent were diagnosed with sexual infections last year - and some of them were aged as young as 11.

Across the country 5,386 youngsters under the age of legal consent were treated for Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, herpes and other conditions.

In under a decade, the number of reported cases of children with sexually transmitted infections has more than doubled from just 2,474 in 2003.

Infections: This graph shows the number of children below the age of legal consent treated for sexually transmitted infections across the country last year

Infections: 5,386 children under the age of legal consent were diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections last year (file photo)

There were 90 children aged 12 or younger diagnosed with STIs in 2012, according to figures released to MailOnline.

Doctors fear the cases may represent just the tip of the iceberg because many youngsters will be too scared to go and see a GP about their 'embarrassing problem'.

Other children will not even realise they have a problem as some conditions, such as Chlamydia which can lead to infertility, often do not have any symptoms at all.

Charities said easy access to online porn meant thousands of schoolchildren barely into their teenage years are getting their sex education online.

Over the last three years, 16,707 children under the age of 16 have been diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections.

Infections: This graph shows around three-quarters of all 15-year-olds diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections last year had Chlamydia

CHILDREN WITH SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS

Children aged under 16 diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections in England in 2012 

(SOURCE: PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND)

Age	Boys	Girls
Under 13	16	58
13	23	167
14	124	994
15	491	3,448
Total	654	4,667

* The gender of an additional 65 children was not disclosed, so is not included within this breakdown

That is equal to 15 children being diagnosed with STIs every single day.

The shock figures were released to the MailOnline by Public Health England under the Freedom of Information Act.

Experts said many of the children aged under 13 who were treated for infections would have been abuse victims rather than sexually active.

Of the 90 children aged under 13 who were diagnosed with STIs last year, 44 had Chlamydia, 32 had genital warts and a small undisclosed number had gonorrhoea and herpes.

In each of the last three years, girls made up around 87 per cent of the children diagnosed with STIs.

Overall there were 5,354 under 16s treated for sexually transmitted infections in 2011 and 5,967 in 2010.

Although the numbers have declined slightly over the last three years, critics said this could be because children are becoming more reluctant to seek help if they think they have got an STI.

Among older children STIs are far more prevalent - there were 10,318 children aged 16 who sought treatment last year and 17,810 aged 17.

Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of STI surveillance at Public Health England (PHE) said, 'Data on infections primarily transmitted through sexual contact are routinely collected, across all age groups, by PHE.

'Rates remain highest in under 25-year-olds and whilst often these infections can be simple to diagnose and treat, if left untreated they can have serious health consequences.

'Regardless of age, everyone should use a condom with new and casual sexual partners, which significantly reduces the risk of getting an STI. We also advise young adults to get screened for chlamydia each year.

'The National Chlamydia Screening Programme is in place in England ensuring access to free testing from a range of convenient locations.

'With regards to those under 13 years old, the number of infections reported each year is very low. In this age group, using the term ‘sexually transmitted infection’ is problematic as it is very rare for children to be sexually active at this age.

'Moreover recent research suggests most of the infections reported are not acquired sexually; and of the few that may have been, sexual abuse was implicated. There is national guidance in place for health professionals to follow in these cases.'