Paediatricians have warned against kissing babies on the lips, stating that the practice could expose infants and newborns to serious health risks.
The child health experts explained that kissing newborns may expose them to the risk of infections and diseases that their immunity might not be able to fight.
Speaking exclusively with PUNCH Healthwise, a Consultant Paediatrician at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, Dr Abdurrazzaq Alege, said newborns have immature immune systems and are vulnerable to infections transmitted through direct mouth-to-mouth contact.
“Direct kissing of the baby on the lip is not too good. Especially if it is from someone who is not really an immediate member of the family. By direct kissing, you are putting the child at risk of lots of things,” he said.
“For newborns, their bodies are still new, and they are more prone to infections, especially through the skin. So, direct contact can introduce agents that their bodies may not be able to handle. For them, it’s not too good.”
While acknowledging that showing affection to babies is natural, the paediatrician advised that safer alternatives should be adopted.
“You can kiss the cheek, the forehead, or any other part of the body, but direct contact like mouth to mouth is not advised. You don’t even know the person’s level of hygiene or health status. It is not advised for the child,” he said.
He also cited the Human Papillomavirus as one of the common infections that could be passed on through kissing.
“For example, adults with HPV can transmit the virus to a baby through kissing. It may not show symptoms immediately, but it can manifest later because the baby has been exposed to the virus. And we know that HPV is one of the risk factors of cancer, especially cervical cancer in women,” he said.
He warned that certain bacteria and viruses found in the mouth and throat of adults can easily be transmitted to babies through kissing.
Alege stressed that many people are unaware of the microbes they carry in their mouths, adding that direct kissing could also predispose babies to fungal infections such as oral candidiasis.
“For example, someone who is immunocompromised or has an oral infection (we call it oral candidiasis) and then puts their mouth directly on another person’s mouth, especially a baby, can easily transmit the infection.
“Why this doesn’t usually happen with adults is because adults commonly have a stronger immune system, so they are able to fight these things. But it’s not the same for newborns and infants. If someone has a sore in the mouth or oral thrush and then uses that same mouth to kiss a newborn or infant, the child can contract a fungal infection.”
“Fungal infections are serious infections — and because the infant’s immune system is not fully developed like that of an adult, they can’t fight it effectively. So, as far as kissing babies on the mouth is concerned, it’s not advisable,” the expert warned.
Also speaking, a Consultant Paediatrician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, Dr. Oluwabunmi Mokuolu, said people harbours allergies and kissing newborn babies should be discouraged.
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 brings down their immunity and a cold can be very serious for a baby. Although, no cough is little. To adults, it is little but to babies, it is not. That cough can be something else to the child.
“It can be a bacterial cough and this way, infections can be transferred to the newborn and the poor child does not have enough antibodies or immunity to fight infection like an adult.”
The paediatrician warned that some babies could die from viral infections if they are presented to the hospital late for treatment by the parents.
“If they have these diseases, they are usually in a severe form of the diseases and it is not good for them. Some can even die from it because parents bring those babies late to the hospital,” the consultant said.
The American Paediatrics Academy says even parents with health issues should avoid kissing their newborn babies, warning that they could spread cold sores to them.
According to APA, parents or relatives with cold sores should be especially careful not to kiss babies, stressing that their immune systems are not well developed until after about six months old.
“Cold sores are highly contagious. They can spread through saliva, skin-to-skin contact, or by touching an object handled by someone infected with the virus.
“When a child develops a cold sore for the first time (also called primary HSV), the blisters often spread beyond the lips to the mouth and gums. A child may also have a fever, swollen and tender lymph glands, sore throat, irritability, and drooling.
“The virus from cold sores can spread to the eyes, which can lead to HSV keratitis, an infection of the cornea—the clear dome that covers the colored part of the eye. The infection usually heals without damaging the eye, but more severe infections can lead to scarring of the cornea or blindness,” the academy said.(Punch)
