Innuendo? Or Innuendon't?

In this group of pages (pg 22-34), I'm just a wee bit perplexed.

" 'What's the matter? You sick?'
'Yes.'
'Everybody's sick. I'm sick, too.' (pg 23)."

I'm not totally sure if this is accurate, but it appears that they are talking about some sort of STD. Maybe that is my "modern mind" at work, but they aren't kissing because of some sickness. That seems a little sketchy to me, so I'm going to pretend it is for sure some sort of STD.

Aside from the obvious effect this has on the novel (shows a sign of the times that they may not even know what this sickness is for lack of technology), it got me thinking about sexuality throughout time. I'm going to keep this appropriate and hope no one is too umcomfortable in the reading of this piece. STDs have been an issue for a lot longer than some could even fathom, but, if you listened to almost anyone speaking on the current generation, they act as if something ignited and it is only now becoming an issue. This is simply not true. In fact, fashion semi-revolved around STDs in the 1920s-30s. Women wore long dresses with long sleeves and extended necks to cover chancres brought about by the disease. I'm not going to carry on about STDs throughout history for obvious reasons, but it just goes to show how truly small our grasp is of America. Issues that arise now have been and will always be issues. They did not magically appear due to a "bad batch" of kids.