Kissing Newborn Babies Can Cause Infections, Here's The Explanation

Illustration of kissing newborns (Freepik)

JAKARTA - The newly born baby's immune system has not yet fully developed, making it easier for them to catch viral and bacterial infections. The immunity of the baby's still weak makes them vulnerable to the transmission of pathogens from those around them.

Primrose Freestone, a senior lecturer in clinical microbiology from the University of Leicester, explained that during the first three months of her life, babies had a much less number of congenital immune cells than adults. This makes them less capable of fighting infection effectively.

In an article published in The Conversation on November 22, 2024, Freestone highlighted that infections that cause only mild symptoms in adults or older children can have serious impacts on infants.

Newborn babies are more at risk of developing bacteria than older children or adults. They are very susceptible to intracellular pathogens, namely bacteria that can enter and survive in the host's body cells. One example is group B streptoccus, which can cause serious diseases such as sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis.

Freestone stressed the importance of caution in interacting with newborns to reduce the risk of infection.

Some of the suggested preventive measures include:

If your health condition does not allow you to completely stay away from your baby, wearing a mask can help reduce the risk of disease transmission.

If you're feeling unwell, think about whether the visit is really important. Baby safety should be a priority," Freestone wrote, as quoted by Antara.

By understanding the risks and implementing preventive measures, newborns can be protected from potentially dangerous threats of infection.