Danger from kisses

Kissing disease

EBV (Eptein Barr Virus) is a virus that causes "infectious mononucleosis", also known as "the kissing disease". EBV is found in saliva and is transmitted through kissing or sharing spoons or personal hygiene items...

Up to 90% of the world's population may be infected with EBV in their lifetime without knowing it, because they do not show any symptoms. Flu-like symptoms appear 4-6 weeks after EBV infection, usually in young people, mild and transient. Fever, loss of appetite, rash, sore throat, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes in the neck... usually resolve after 2-4 weeks, however fatigue can last for several months.

Other rare diseases caused by EBV include ear infections, diarrhea, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Burkitt's lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal cancer. According to Dr. Lam Duc Hoang, Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, the risk of complications leading to nasopharyngeal cancer from "kissing disease" is very rare. The cause of nasopharyngeal cancer is a combination of diverse risk factors such as genetics, environment, eating habits and lifestyle... EBV is just a factor that affects the body that has been weakened before developing nasopharyngeal cancer.

Nasopharyngeal cancer

Nasopharyngeal cancer is the most dangerous disease among head-face-neck cancers, originating from epithelial cells in the nasopharynx. This is one of the 10 most common cancers in the world, often found in some Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam. Patients with nasopharyngeal cancer have a high mortality rate.

Doctor Dinh Huu Viet, Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital, said that oral sex is one of the causes of nasopharyngeal cancer and is on the rise globally. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) causes papillomas and genital warts and can be transmitted from person to person during sexual intercourse, including oral sex.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is common in all ages, most commonly in men between 40 and 60 years old. Symptoms are not obvious and are often only detected at a late stage. Symptoms include nosebleeds or nasal congestion, bloody sputum, blocked ears, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, headaches, dizziness, facial numbness, etc.

HP bacteria infection

Doctor Tran Ngoc Luu Phuong - Deputy Head of the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital, said that HP (Helicobacter Pylori) bacteria causes gastric and duodenal ulcers, acute or chronic gastritis, and more dangerously, stomach cancer. Common symptoms are epigastric pain, heartburn, stomach rumbling, burning behind the sternum... HP is transmitted mainly through food, saliva, feces, digestive juices, especially in families with the habit of eating together. Infection occurs when consuming contaminated food and water.

Kissing can also transmit HP but the risk is low. If positive for HP bacteria, the patient can be completely cured after 2 weeks of taking medication as prescribed by the doctor.

In addition, kissing or oral sex also increases the risk of infection through scratches, bleeding in the mouth, genitals, and gingivitis. Bacteria that cause inflammation can be transmitted through contact with the saliva of an infected person. A normal person can get sick when kissing a person with gum disease or bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Sickoral herpesCommonly known as cold sores, they are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This is a common infection spread through kissing. Women are more susceptible than men.

SicksyphilisNot only is it transmitted sexually, it can also be transmitted through intimate gestures and kissing. When kissing deeply and vigorously, the mouth can be scratched, allowing the syphilis spirochetes to enter and infect healthy people. The initial symptoms of the disease are usually painless, non-itchy ulcers. After a while, the patient may have a rash, fever, headache, loss of appetite and physical weakness.