Contents:
- Medical Video: 10 Diseases You Can Get Through KISSING!
- Can you catch meningitis through a kiss?
- How to prevent contracting meningitis?
Medical Video: 10 Diseases You Can Get Through KISSING!
In July 2017,husband and wife from Iowa, United States, must give up the departure of a newborn baby due to meningitis. Doctors suspect that the baby contracted meningitis from guests who carried and kissed the baby while visiting him. The risk of transmitting meningitis through kissing is also not limited to infants, because even teenagers and adults are equally risky.
Can you catch meningitis through a kiss?
Meningitis is inflammation of the lining of the brain. Some classic symptoms of inflammation of the lining of the brain include headaches, fever, and stiff neck (stiff neck). Anyone is at risk of developing meningitis, especially infants and children, the elderly, and people who have weak immunity.
Meningitis is most often caused by a virus, but some cases can also be caused by bacteria or fungi. Meningitis caused by a common bacterial infection is caused by E. coli infection andHaemophilus influenzae.The virus that causes meningitis also has various types. The herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), the HIV virus, and the measles virus are among the three most common types of viruses causing meningitis. Plus, meningococcal disease is the main cause of meningitis in children and adults.
Both viral, bacterial and fungal infections causing meningitis can be transmitted through close personal contact with an infected person, such as coughing and sneezing that is not closed or kissing. Because the throat secretions of people infected with meningitis, such as sputum and saliva, contain particle infections.
How to prevent contracting meningitis?
The main way to prevent transmission of meningitis is with meningitis vaccine. The disease control agency in the United States, CDC, recommends giving meningococcal vaccine to children from a minimum age of 6 weeks (MenHibrix), 2 months (Menveo), 9 months (Menactra), and 10 years (MenB-Trumenba).
Meningococcal ACYW135 vaccine for adults should be given at least two to four weeks before traveling to high-risk areas, for example before leaving for Hajj or Umrah. Generally doctors will recommend that you get this vaccine every 2 to 3 years.
If you live with or are caring for a person infected with meningitis, avoid direct contact as much as possible. Though transmission of airborne meningitis is not as easy as flu transmissionyour risk increases if you experience prolonged direct contact with an infected person. For example, such as sharing eating utensils or eating and drinking from the same source simultaneously. Here are a few examples:
- Don't share food, glasses, water bottles, or eating utensils with an infected person
- Don't share tissues or towels
- Don't share lip gloss or lipstick
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water after using public facilities
Finally, it is important to mkeep your immune system healthy to help you protect yourself from various viruses and diseases. Try to continue to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Examples include eating healthy and nutritious foods, getting enough rest, exercising regularly and avoiding unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking and consuming alcohol.
