Kiss or kissing is simply the gentle stroking of the lips against any part of another person’s body. Mostly the opposite sex.
It could be the forehead, ear, cheek, neck, hand, leg, lips, etc. Kiss on each part of the body has a specific significance. For instance, a kiss on the cheek signifies a friendly greeting, on the lips signifies romantic affection, on the forehead is to comfort and so on.
Note: This article has real-life graphic images that may not be suitable for people who easily get irritated. For the sake of this article, we will dwell on the mouth to mouth kiss that entails the exchange of saliva. A kiss between two lovers. A kiss that triggers sexual arousal. Below are 5 infections one can contract via kissing
- Herpes
Herpes is a common virus that causes soreness on the mouth and or genitals. There are two types of herpes: Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2). The HSV-1 also known as oral or mouth herpes is contracted through kissing while the HSV-2 also known as genital herpes is contracted via sexual intercourse. Herpes causes itching, body aches, fever, and headache. Oral herpes (HSV-1) causes soreness in and around the mouth.
According to Idris Abdur Rahman MD, if you kiss someone with the legion in his or her mouth, mucous membrane makes herpes easy to be transmitted. He also made it clear that some people can be carriers of the virus for months and even years without physical symptoms. Such a person can still transmit the virus despite not having any physical symptoms he clarified. There is no cure for herpes yet but it can be managed by using antiviral medications like Valtrex and over–the–counter medications like Abreva.
- Syphilis
Syphilis is a common bacterial infection that can be spread through sex and kiss. Syphilis causes soreness on one’s genitals (chancres), in and or around one’s mouth, and any other part of one’s body. One contracts syphilis from contact with the sore of an infected person. Syphilis can easily be a cure if noticed on time but if not, it can lead to serious problems like brain damage, paralysis, and blindness. Like I stated earlier, syphilis is contracted from contact with the sore of an infected person. When you kiss someone with syphilis sore in or around his or her mouth, your mouth gets in contact with the person’s sore and you immediately contract the infection. The good news is that syphilis can be treated with antibiotics like penicillin, doxycycline, and azithromycin
- Meningitis
Meningitis is the inflammation of the membrane that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is usually caused by bacteria or viruses. This infection can be contracted through direct or indirect contact with an infected person: direct contact, when you touch the saliva, nasal mucus, or faeces of an infected person while indirect contact when you inhale or are in close proximity to an infected person coughing or sneezing. There are two types of meningitis: The virus causing meningitis and the bacteria causing meningitis.
According to the Centre For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), close contact with someone with viral meningitis can lead to you getting the virus but is unlikely to actually turn into meningitis. They also attest that, unlike viral meningitis, bacterial meningitis is more likely to turn into or cause meningitis if you are in close contact with an infected person. Since meningitis can be contracted via contact with the saliva of an infected person, it can be contracted through kissing. Symptoms of meningitis are severe headache, vomiting, high fever, stiffness of the neck, sensitivity, and eye pain on exposure to light and skin rash. Meningitis can be treated with antibiotics like cephalosporins, Rocephin, etc.
- Infectious mononucleosis
This is also known as kissing disease. This infection is caused by a virus that is easily transmitted through kissing. Symptoms of the infection are intense fatigue, fever, rash, and swollen glands. Treatment involves resting, drinking plenty of fluids, eating a healthy diet, and taking over-the-counter pain and fever-reducing medications to ease the symptoms.
- Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease (periodontal disease) that causes irritation, redness, and swelling (inflammation) of your gingiva, the part of your gum around the base of your teeth. It is caused by bacteria. Since kissing entails the exchange of saliva and bacteria, it is very likely for one to contract gingivitis via kissing.
The best way to protect yourself from gingivitis is by maintaining excellent oral health (i.e. brushing twice a day and flossing before bed) so that no matter what kind of bacteria someone introduces into your mouth, you would have washed it off before it gets out of hand.
