Kiss of death: This is why you shouldn't let anyone kiss your baby on the lips

You may love giving hugs and kisses to every adorable and chubby baby you see, but, next time, please hold back before planting a kiss on a newborn's lips.

You never know what bacteria or virus you're passing to the infant.

Just yesterday (July 18), a couple from Iowa, US, announced on Facebook the death of their 18-day-old daughter, Mariana Sifrit, who was infected with HVS-1, the same herpes virus that causes cold sores.

Mariana was born on July 1 after a complication free-pregnancy and smooth delivery. But it wasn't until July 7, the same day that Shane and Nicole Sifrit held their wedding, that they noticed Mariana's pale skin and how she stopped eating and was slow to wake up, according to a Daily Mail report.

What would have been blissful month quickly turned into a calamitous period of time for them, as the couple left their reception and took their baby to Blank Children's Hospital for a check-up. Mariana was, then, diagnosed with the life-threatening viral infection.

It was reported that Mariana could have contracted the virus from a visitor who was carrying the herpes virus and had kissed her. Both her parents tested negative for HVS-1.

The baby girl underwent six blood transfusions within 48 hours at the hospital but to no avail as her condition quickly deteriorated. Her kidneys started failing and required dialysis while her liver malfunctioned, leading to internal bleeding.

On July 10, Mariana had to be flown by a helicopter to University of Iowa Hospital where teams of specialists tried to stop the fatal infection.

By July 17, Nicole posted another update on her daughter's condition stating that Mariana lacks brain activity, and that her lungs and heart were failing as well.

A fund-raising campaign has also been started by Nicole's friend, Rachel O'Toole, to support the couple on their unprecedented bills, including a US$12,000 (S$16,000) fee for the helicopter flight between the two hospitals.

As of today (July 19), over US$9,357 has been raised.

Mariana's story is, however, not the first of its kind. 

In 2015, a mother shared a photo of her newborn who had contracted oral herpes after being kissed by a visitor who was a carrier of the virus.

Similar cases of newborns falling prey to the virus from being kissed by people with cold sores were also reported in 2008 and 2009.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HSV-1 is a highly contagious infection that is mainly transmitted by oral to oral contact, while genital herpes can be caused by oral-genital contact. 

The viral infection could occasionally develop into meningitis which is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infants less than 1-month-old who are diagnosed with viral meningitis are more likely to develop severe illnesses.

ongymm@sph.com.sg