Teenagers who indulge in deep kissing with multiple partnershave a high risk of meningococcal memingitis according to a recent research published in the British Medical Journal. A study of 144 youngsters between the ages of 15 and 19 who had been admitted to British Hospitals with
meningococcal disease between 1999 and 2000 as studied by J Tulley and colleagues.
They found that deep kissing, particularly with more than one partner, was a strong independant risk factor, for developing meningococcal disease.
It is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidus, Meningococcal disease includes meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia- which is infection affecting the whole body.
Apart from behavioural change, that is, discouraging deep kissing, Tulley and colleagues suggest that vaccinating teenagers against meningococcal disease is the most effective strategy to prevent disease.
