Kissing can spread what diseases?

Mononucleosis also known as “kissing disease” is one of the well-known infectious diseases. Also, some sexually transmitted infections can be spread through kissing. Here are some diseases that can be encountered when kissing.

Infectious diseases in saliva

Infectious diseases can be spread in a number of ways. Oral transmission spreads the bacteria through saliva or shared food and drinks. Saliva during kissing, the swallowing action of the tongue will sweep bacteria into the back of the throat, creating conditions for bacteria to enter the body.

Infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis (EBV) are examples of infections that are spread orally from saliva containing the virus. Infectious mononucleosis is also known as “kissing disease”.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be transmitted specifically through semen and other body fluids such as urine, blood, tears, and breast milk, but the greatest risk of transmission is contact with human saliva. have symptoms. So, if you kiss someone who has CMV, you run the risk of catching it, too.

Other infectious bacteria are spread through saliva by attaching to the inner surfaces of the cheeks and mouth, tongue, or teeth. Streptococcus bacteria, for example, can cause a variety of infections, including gum disease and strep throat.

The bacteria found in saliva can generally be found in other parts of the respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. As a result, even colds and flu (and other respiratory infections) can be spread through saliva.

Infectious diseases from mouth sores

Some infections that cause mouth sores can also be spread through kissing, such as herpes, syphilis, and hand, foot, and mouth disease. Cold sores are caused by a herpes virus, most commonly the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). HSV-1 is spread through cold sores on the lips or near the mouth, and is most contagious when the sores are open and oozing fluid.

Meanwhile, the HSV-2 virus usually causes genital herpes. Sometimes if you have oral sex, you can get HSV-2 around your mouth. If you kiss someone with HSV-2 through oral sex or kissing, you can also get the infection. However, it is rarer to catch HSV-2 from kissing than from HSV-1.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can be spread by direct contact with syphilis sores. Those sores can be found on or around the penis, vagina, anus, rectum, lips, or mouth. Syphilis can also be transmitted through intimate gestures and kissing. Symptoms depend on how advanced the infection is, but they can include hard, round, painless sores at the site of infection; rash on the skin; swollen lymph nodes and fever.

Hand, foot and mouth disease caused by the Coxsackie virus is another contagious disease that is spread through open sores in the mouth. This is an enterovirus, which is a common infection that has many strains to which we are all commonly exposed. This infection is common in children, especially those in daycare or preschool. Hand, foot and mouth disease is spread by touching or close contact such as kissing or sharing utensils and cups, touching the feces of an infected person such as when changing a diaper, or touching the eyes, nose or mouth…

HIV and hepatitis B in saliva, however, are not usually spread through kissing. With HIV disease, there is a risk that there is an open, bleeding sore that allows enough virus to pass from one person to another.

There are several ways to reduce your risk of contracting the disease, such as not kissing someone with cold sores or cold sores. Practice a monogamous sex life.

Kim Uyen
(According to DRAWerywellhealth, Medical News Today)