Gaby
Dr. Karan Raj, a surgeon with the National Health Service in the UK, recently took to social media to warn about the dangers of kissing infants. Judging by the thousands of comments, this was news to many of his followers.
The warning primarily concerns family members and guests visiting a newborn. However, parents should also be cautious about how they express affection through touch.
Last year, the British charity The Lullaby Trust published a survey finding that 54 percent of young and expectant parents might allow friends and family to kiss their newborn without realizing the risk of serious infection.
So, what’s the danger?
As explained by Primrose Freestone, a senior lecturer in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, a newborn’s immune system is not fully developed. This significantly increases the risk of contracting serious infections.
During the first three months of life, infants have fewer innate immune cells — like neutrophils and monocytes — that fight infections. That means illnesses that cause mild symptoms in adults or older children can pose life-threatening risks to infants.
Herpes is one example. In adults, the virus usually causes cold sores, but infants can become seriously ill after contracting it. If herpes affects only a child’s eyes, mouth, or skin, most children recover after antiviral treatment. However, if the illness becomes systemic and affects the child’s organs, it can be life-threatening. Freestone noted that the younger the child, the more vulnerable they are to herpes infection, especially in the first four weeks after birth.
Freestone adds that infants are also more susceptible to bacterial infections than older children and adults. Newborns are particularly vulnerable to intracellular pathogens such as Group B streptococci. These bacteria often colonize the gastrointestinal and genital tracts of healthy adults without causing illness, but when they enter an infant’s body they can cause sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.
Newborns can also contract infections from certain strains of E. coli, which can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis, IFLScience reported.
Expressions of affection to be wary of
Parents of very young children shouldn’t feel awkward asking persistent visitors not to kiss or touch their baby. If a guest truly cares about the child’s well-being, they shouldn’t take offense at that request, Freestone says.
She says the best thing a visitor can do is avoid putting the child at risk of infection. Follow these simple guidelines.
First and foremost, wash your hands thoroughly. Do not kiss the infant on the mouth or face. Kiss the baby on the foot or the back of the head instead.
If a friend or relative has an active infection, cancel the visit — especially if the baby is under a month old.
Cover any visible cold sores with a bandage.
If you must visit, wear a face mask.
If you feel unwell, avoid exposing the baby; postpone the visit.
Freestone points out that infants are very vulnerable to infections. Kisses are a sign of love, but they can seriously harm a newborn.
