Paediatricians
have cautioned against kissing babies on the lips, noting that this behavior might put infants and newborns at risk of severe health issues.
Child health specialists stated that kissing infants could put them at risk for infections and illnesses that their immune system may struggle to combat.
In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Healthwise, Dr Abdurrazzaq Alege, a Consultant Paediatrician at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Kastina, stated that newborns possess underdeveloped immune systems and are susceptible to infections that can be passed on via direct mouth-to-mouth contact.
“Kissing a baby directly on the lips isn’t ideal, particularly if it’s coming from someone outside the close family circle. Direct kisses can expose the infant to various risks,” he explained.
For infants, their bodies remain delicate, making them more susceptible to infections, particularly via the skin. Direct contact can expose them to elements that their systems might struggle to manage. This isn’t ideal for them.
Although expressing love towards infants is instinctive, the pediatrician recommended exploring safer options instead.
“You may greet with a peck on the cheek, the forehead, or any other area of the body, but direct mouth-to-mouth contact is discouraged. After all, you’re unaware of the individual’s cleanliness standards or their current state of health. This advice particularly applies to children,” he stated.
He mentioned the Human Papillomavirus as one of the widespread infections that can be transmitted via kissing.
“For instance, adults infected with HPV can pass the virus to an infant via kisses. While symptoms might not appear right away, they could develop over time due to exposure to the virus. We understand that HPV is a contributing factor for cancers, particularly cervical cancer in females,” he explained.
He cautioned that specific germs and viruses present in an adult’s oral cavity can readily pass to infants via kisses.
Alege emphasized that numerous individuals remain oblivious to the microorganisms present in their mouths, noting that direct kissing might also increase the risk of infants developing fungal infections like oral candidiasis.
For instance, an individual who is immunocompromised or suffers from an oral infection—known as oral candidiasis—and subsequently places their mouth directly onto another person’s mouth, particularly a baby, can readily pass on the infection.
The reason this typically does not occur in adults is due to their robust immune systems, which enable them to combat such issues effectively. However, newborns and infants do not share the same level of immunity. For instance, if an individual has a mouth sore or oral thrush and proceeds to kiss a newborn or infant with the same mouth, the baby may develop a fungal infection as a result.
“Fungal infections are severe illnesses—given that an infant’s immune system isn’t as mature as an adult’s, they cannot combat these infections efficiently. Therefore, regarding the act of kissing infants on their mouths, it is best avoided,” cautioned the specialist.
Additionally, Dr. Oluwabunmi Mokuolu, a Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Kwara State, stated that since people can have allergies, it is advisable to discourage kissing newborns.
According to her, some of the people carrying babies may have allergies like colds for example.
“By the time you are kissing the baby, colds are usually transmitted by viruses, you are indirectly transferring these viruses to these babies. So, you are increasing their chance/chances of having a cold and other viral infections. These bring down their immunity. You know they are really small and they are new to the world and their immune system is weak.
So, this virus weakens their immune system, making even a common cold potentially severe for an infant. While a cough may seem minor to adults, it isn’t negligible for babies. It could indicate a more serious issue for the child.
It could be a bacterial cough, which means infections might be passed on to the newborn. The unfortunate child doesn’t have sufficient antibodies or immunity like an adult to combat such infections.
The pediatrician cautioned that some infants might succumb to viral infections if their parents bring them to the hospital too late for treatment.
“If these illnesses develop, they typically present in severe forms which is detrimental to the infants. In some cases, this can be fatal due to delayed medical attention when parents seek help too late,” the consultant explained.
The American Pediatrics Association advises that even parents with health problems should refrain from kissing their newborns, cautioning that this could lead to the transmission of cold sores.
As per APA guidelines, individuals with cold sores who are parents or relatives should take particular care to avoid kissing infants, as their immune systems remain underdeveloped until roughly six months of age.
Cold sores are very infectious. They can be transmitted via saliva, direct skin contact, or by coming into contact with items touched by an individual who has the virus.
When an infant experiences their initial outbreak of cold sores due to herpes simplex virus (HSV), the lesions typically extend from the lips to areas inside the mouth and on the gums. The child might additionally exhibit symptoms such as a fever, enlarged and sensitive lymph nodes, a painful throat, fussiness, and excessive salivation.
“The herpes simplex virus responsible for cold sores has the potential to infect the eyes, resulting in HSV keratitis—an inflammation of the cornea, the transparent layer covering the iris. Typically, this condition resolves itself without causing harm; however, more serious cases may cause corneal scars or vision loss,” according to the academy.
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