More than half of sex slaves in Southeast Asia are infected with HIV/AIDS.

Tens of thousands of child sex users bring home lifelong diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Gonorrhoea, syphilis, herpes, genital warts, scabies, Chlamydia, crabs, chancroid and more.

Imagine the effect that these "unexpected souvenirs" you bring home from your "holiday romance" will have on your family, your children and at your workplace.

AIDS is relatively new to countries in Southeast Asia, like Cambodia.It was first detected in Cambodia only ten years ago. Throughout the early 1990's, low rates of infection in comparison to other countries in the region were the rule. But between 1994 and 1995 the incidence of HIV increased nearly 500% from 4,000 to 30,000 cases. Unprotected sexual intercourse was the main cause to explain this increase. Today, countries like Cambodia have one of the highest infection rates inSoutheast Asia.

More than 51% of Cambodian sex workers currently have HIV/AIDS, in some areas the infection rate is as high as 80%. Young children are especially vulnerable to the transmission of HIV through sexualintercourse.

Once a child has contracted HIV they are more susceptible to other diseases and sicknesses that the brothel setting offers in abundance - sex users are not immune. Gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes simplex, urinary tract infections and polyps are the most common diseases in Cambodian brothels that are sexually transmitted. These diseases partnered with sicknesses as simple as the common cold can lead to the death of a child with AIDS, and lifelong disease in sex users who frequent them even once.

There is a common misconception in the brothels that antibiotics offer protection from HIV/AIDS. Consequently, these victims will spend what little money they have by purchasing antibiotics and taking them on a regular basis. Not only are these antibiotics offering a false hope but most local pharmacies carry expired medication that can cause illness and have negative long-term effects.

The continued trauma on the body of a child who is forced to have sex between ten and fifteen times a day can also lead to cervical cancer. When a sex user goes to a child prostitute, it is the medical equivalent of having slept with everyone that victim has for the last 3 months - upwards of 900 people.