Doctor Kogut called diseases that are most often transmitted through kissing

Tatyana Kogut, an infectious disease specialist at the Doctis telemedicine service, told “Gazete.Ru”that about 80 million bacteria are transmitted through kisses, but at the same time, so-called cross-immunization occurs in people.

As the doctor explained, approximately 20% of the bacteria transmitted by kissing are unique. That is, each person in the mouth has its own personal microbiome. During a kiss, in the process of exchanging saliva, partners form antibodies to each other’s foreign bacteria, which ensures cross-immunization.

“Thanks to it, the body’s resistance and resistance to infections transmitted by airborne droplets increases,” Kogut said.

She noted that “the more often people kiss, the more active this immunization is and the better the immunity is strengthened.”

Kissing also releases a large amount of oxytocin, the happiness hormone, which affects mood and suppresses cortisol, the stress hormone, thereby increasing the body’s defenses.

However, there is a risk of getting infected through a kiss, the specialist noted. One of the most common is herpes simplex virus type 1.

Kogut said that many are familiar with the manifestations of this disease in the acute period: “small painful blisters near the lips, nose or even inside the mouth, itching and burning in the affected area, a slight increase in temperature.”

Despite the fact that most people are carriers of herpes, it is transmitted only during the period of exacerbation, which is characterized by the appearance of blisters.

“Of course, kissing during this period is not worth it, since the risk of infection is high,” the infectious disease specialist emphasized.

Kissing can also transmit infectious mononucleosis. “The causative agent of this“ kissing disease ”- the Epstein-Barr virus, according to Kogut, also belongs to the herpesvirus family. It is transmitted with saliva and “feels great in a favorable mucosal environment.”

The doctor described the symptoms as “constant fatigue, sore throat, high fever, loss of appetite, and swollen lymph nodes with angina.”

Infectious mononucleosis can be detected by serological testing. This disease is considered less contagious than herpes, but at risk are young people aged 15-30 years.

In addition, absolutely all airborne infections can be transmitted through a kiss, including COVID-19, influenza, adenovirus infection, and other acute respiratory viral infections. But, most likely, as the infectious disease specialist said, upon contact with a sick person, infection will occur even before the kiss: “it’s enough just to be in the same room, talking to each other.”

The doctor advises to be careful: “If you are sick, then you should take care of your partner and refrain from kissing for some time, even on February 14.”