A two-year-old baby was infected with the herpes virus after receiving a kiss on the face, leading to the loss of vision in one eye in the United Kingdom.
According to British media Metro on the 10th (local time), the son of Michelle Simon, 36, from Namibia, named Juhwan (then 16 months old), had severe redness in his left eye in August. Simon, believing it to be mild conjunctivitis, visited the hospital. However, the diagnosis was unexpected. Doctors diagnosed Juhwan with a herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. HSV is commonly referred to as 'herpes,' which is a highly contagious virus that causes cold sores on the lips or genital herpes.
Medical staff analyzed, "It is highly likely that someone who carries the herpes virus kissed the baby's face." Since Juhwan's parents did not have the virus, it is presumed that the infection occurred when someone with the virus casually kissed the baby's face.
Ultimately, Juhwan lost vision in his left eye; fortunately, the infection did not spread to his brain or the other eye. He is currently in the state of having undergone amniotic membrane transplantation surgery and is about to undergo a major surgery to transplant nerves from his leg to his eye. If the surgery is successful, there is a possibility of vision recovery. Juhwan's mother noted, "As my husband and I are not herpes carriers, we were shocked to learn that our child became infected from someone’s kiss," and added, "While it may not have been malicious, it is too harsh for a child to endure," urging caution.
Experts warn that because the baby's immune system is immature, kissing the face or touching with hands can be dangerous. Primrose Prieston, a professor of clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, said, "Babies can easily become infected with various pathogens, including the herpes virus," and advised, "It is better not to kiss the face, and if necessary, it is safer to do so on the feet or back of the head."
Newborns have a much weaker immune system than adults. They are susceptible to infectious bacteria such as Streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and pneumococcus, and especially newborns within three months of birth lack immune cells, leading to rapid disease progression. Nevertheless, many parents are unaware of these risks. According to a recent survey released by the British charity 'Lullaby Trust,' 54% of newborns and pregnant women do not recognize the infection risks while allowing family and friends to kiss the newborn.
Experts emphasize, "Parents of infants should request that others do not kiss or touch their baby." They also advise that to reduce the risk of infection, individuals visiting a baby must wash their hands thoroughly and refrain from visiting if they exhibit symptoms of infectious diseases.