10 February, 2006 20:34 GMT
Meningococcal disease, a life threatening condition, tends to peak in early childhood and in adolescence.It can cause meningitis -- an inflammation of the brain lining -- and septicemia, which is the blood poisoning form of the disease.
Australian researchers have discovered that intimate kissing of multiple partners can quadruple a teenager's risk of meningitis -- which can be fatal.
Lead researcher Robert Booy, who defined multiple partners as up to seven in two weeks, says teens should change their behavior, but most likely won't, the BBC reported Friday.
Peaks in Early Childhood and Adolescence
Meningococcal disease, a life threatening condition, tends to peak in early childhood and in adolescence.
It can cause meningitis -- an inflammation of the brain lining -- and septicemia, which is the blood poisoning form of the disease. About one in 10 teens carry meningococcal bacteria.
Passes Easily in Saliva
"We all carry bacteria in our throats, and some of us will carry the meningococcal bacteria," said Booy, of Children's Hospital Westmead, Sydney. "They don't exist very well outside of the body. But if it can pass in saliva, from one person to the next, then it passes very easily."
While risk for those with multiple partners is greater, he said they found no appreciable difference been a person with one partner and a person with none.
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