Dr.T.V.Rao MD

Love is in the air

Germs are everywhere

Kissers beware

Of infections you can share.

Today Kissing is a matter of debate, when kissing on streets the moral police opposing, liberals

promoting it, Law just is a silent spectators enjoys the situation as everyone has their one likes and

dislikes. When passion takes a grip, a kiss locks two humans together in an exchange of scents,

tastes, textures, secrets and emotions. People kiss furtively, lasciviously, gently, shyly, hungrily and

exuberantly. The human body contains more bacteria than human cells – about 10 times more. We

know that the mouth is the dirtiest place in the body; this is because saliva contains numerous

microorganisms. Human bites are said to be more dangerous than a dog bites as it contains more

bacteria says the CDC. Worldwide there are billions of kisses exchanged by people each year. The air

kiss, casual peck on the cheek or the cultured kiss on the hand aren’t much of a threat but a kiss that

exchanges saliva from one another is a different matter. We don’t talk much about kissing it is part

and passion to intimacy. None of us likes to think that something we enjoy so much could be

hazardous to our health. When we think about it, it's little wonder that kissing always involves an

exchange of microbes both harmful and harmless, the concern of the science and microbiology the

act of kissing just exchanges the material, saliva which can transfer between two individuals, first

concern can be exchange of Microbes and allergens. Oral cavity is dynamic with many microbes

exchanged with each act of kissing. Natural Microbial Defence Mechanisms in the Mouth Saliva has a

natural cleansing role, provided by its flushing activity. Other antimicrobial defences in the saliva

include antibodies and other antimicrobial proteins (e.g., lysozyme), and normal mouth flora, the

spread of infectious microbes through the saliva can occur when natural resistance in the mouth is

reduced. For example, gum infections can occur in people with vitamin C deficiencies, and thrush,

caused by Candida yeast infections, is more likely to occur in people who have been taking

antibiotics. Oral herpes can of course be spread by kissing. On the other hand, some infections like

gonorrhoea and chlamydia are harder to be transmitted through kissing alone. We teach our

students on Kissing diseases Epstein Barr virus infection which can be highly contagious. Infectious

mononucleosis (mono) is often called the kissing disease. The virus that causes mono is transmitted

through saliva, so you can get it through kissing, the scientific studies proved great hope who live

intimately the chance of transmission of Hepatitis B with deep kissing is little known, as no infections

have been definitively documented after exposure to infected saliva. Yet, since HBV has been found

in saliva, the risk of transmission with deep kissing probably exists and the risk increases. A 2009

study led by a team of British scientists found that the physically intimate act of kissing partly stems

from an evolutionary driving force designed to build up the immune system. This is especially true

for pregnant women as smooching helps women develop an immunity to cytomegalovirus – a virus

that can cause a great deal of harm to an unborn fetus. “Female inoculation with a specific male’s

cytomegalovirus is most efficiently achieved through mouth-to-mouth contact and saliva exchange,

particularly where the flow of saliva is from the male to the female,” states Dr. Colin Hendrie,

medical researcher. Most of the bacteria that resides inside and outside out bodies is completely

harmless. And since according to a recent study there can be up to 500 different bacteria species on

our skin alone, that's a good thing as life is balance with Normal flora and pathogens in the

environment . Actually, just one percent of all known bacterial flora are pathogenic. The rest do no

harm. , In the process of kissing, you do exchange flora. Sometimes it's bad and sometimes it means

nothing.” Saliva contains powerful antibacterial chemicals that kill most bacteria before the germs

from a kiss are passed on. Some dentists say that extra saliva helps prevent tooth decay. Scientists

even agree that a little smooching does stimulate the flow of saliva that eliminates acid coating on

teeth. The course of true love may not run smoothly for some people with highly sensitive allergies,

experts say, since kissing or other intimate contact can pose risks for sometimes serious reactions.

It's not unusual for people with allergies to experience a reaction in the form of lip-swelling, throat-

swelling, rash, hives, itching, and/or wheezing immediately after kissing a partner who has

consumed an identified allergen. Bahna said some highly sensitive people can be affected hours

after their partner has absorbed the allergic substance, because the partner's saliva is still excreting

allergen. "It depends on the particular sensitivity of the immune system. While allergies in general

are common, the degree of sensitivity in people varies widely. Most people get a mild reaction from

an allergen. Kissing posing a risk, obviously, when you or your partner is sick. But some patients react

after their partner has brushed his or her teeth or several hours after eating. It turns out that their

partners' saliva is excreting the allergen hours after the food or medicine has been absorbed by their

body." Even though very few illnesses are transferred through “deep kissing,” germs that cause strep

throat, mono, and herpes can spread though kissing. Also, kissing should be avoided if either partner

has lesions or sores in and on the mouth. The amount of saliva that is transferred during intimate

kissing would most likely be less than a couple of teaspoonful, hardly a significant contribution to

that of the recipients own body. While secretions like saliva and tears contain fairly decent amounts

of IgA the benefit would only be to the person secreting it as a teaspoonful would be diluted by the

vastly larger amount of IgA in the recipient's own saliva. Of all the antibody isotypes, IgA is produced

in the largest amount. Teleologically, this is because IgA is constantly flowing out of the body in

secretions and digestive products. The kiss recipient would need to be given a gift of antibody

producing cells making the protective antibody in order to really have a benefit; and, HIV is rarely (if

ever) transmitted through kissing; when it does occur it probably relates to open sores in the mouth

that allow exposure to blood, not just saliva. Hepatitis B and C and are not typically transmitted

through routine kissing as well. Kissing offers many health benefits, satisfying human passion to

reach intimacy and reliving the stressful situations but May also transmit a small number of disease-

causing agents such as bacteria and viruses. Colds, glandular fever (kissing disease), herpes infection,

warts, hepatitis B and meningococcal disease may all be transmitted by kissing. However, the risk of

disease from kissing is small and kissing can be good for physical and mental health. Be Careful Who

You Kiss, love and passion in spite of fear Be careful: keep your mouth as healthy and germ-free as

possible every day. Make sure your partner takes preventive actions too, so you can both enjoy

those intimate smooches.

IF WE READ THE HISTORY THE LAW CANNOT CONTROL THE HUMAN PASSIONS, SOCIAL

VALUES CHANGE, WE CAN BE ONLY SPECTATORS TO CHANGE?

Ref - When Romance and Allergies Don't Mix By Alan Mozes

The Truth about Germs and Kisses: Just How Safe is a Smooch? By Sylvia Anderson

Can antibodies be transferred through kissing/saliva?

Dr.T.V.Rao MD Professor of Microbiology Freelance writer