The bacteria is frequently found in the back of healthy people's throats, but we do not know what causes these epidemics. Some people who are at risk of developing this type of infection have minor abnormalities that make them particularly susceptible to this bacteria. Other people have completely no identifiable predisposition to this infection. We think that epidemics may be caused by a transformation of the bacteria that lives in the back of a person's throat to a virulent strain for unknown reasons. This meningococcal disease is frequently seen during the winter months with the main increase December through March.
Epidemics can happen at other times, though.
This disease is relatively uncommon, and it is for that reason why we do not hear more about it. It is during these epidemics when the frequency of the infection increases that the media picks up on this disease and the public becomes acutely aware of it. With a careful observation of your children and friends and being aware that diseases such as meningitis are around in our world, we hopefully can prevent some of the devastating consequences of this and other diseases. I would also like to thank Texas Children's Hospital and Texas Children's Pediatrics Associates for allowing me to speak with you this evening. The purpose of the Ask The Doctor chats are to provide general information and is in no way intended to be construed as medical advice for any visitors' specific disease or condition.