More than a simple kiss: these are the diseases you can catch from locking lips

Kissing is a common exchange of affection in many cultures, which is usually performed by people with emotional ties.

As the habit of kissing is widely accepted in our society, many forget that exchanging saliva can also be a route of disease transmission.

Click on to find out the main diseases that can be contracted through kissing, as well as cultural curiosities about this form of affection!

Known as the “kissing disease”, this infection is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The infected person may experience fatigue, sore throat, cough and swollen glands. The disease may also have no symptoms.

Transmission occurs mainly during the incubation period, which lasts 30 to 45 days, but it is worth remembering that the Mononucleosis virus remains in the body for the rest of your life, as the disease has no cure.

Photo: Unsplash - Tim Mossholder

Kissing or sharing glasses and cutlery is the most common way to spread herpes. Its transmission is difficult to prevent, as there are not always apparent signs of the presence of the virus.

This is because, even if the wounds in the mouth have already healed, there is still a chance of infection. Once infected, the person will have to live with the virus forever, but lesions resulting from the disease tend to only appear when immunity is low.

H1N1 flu affects the respiratory tract and can lead to serious complications. But transmission of the disease, also known as swine flu, is stable, although it has not yet been eradicated. A person can be infected through a simple droplet from a sneeze, so imagine what would happen with a kiss!

Of a similar nature, Covid-19 follows the same transmission patterns and can be avoided by washing your hands, as well as avoiding touching your eyes, nose, mouth and, of course, contact between lips.

Photo: Unsplash - Melissa Jeanty

Not everyone knows this, but syphilis, which is an infectious disease, can be transmitted through kissing, if the infected person has a sore in their mouth. However, the most frequent form of contagion is through sexual relations.

The disease is caused by a bacteria called treponema pallidum. In the initial phase, small lesions appear located in the mouth or in the intimate region which, if not treated, can evolve into a chronic disease, compromising the central nervous and cardiovascular system, as well as the skin and bones.

According to Dr. Drauzio Varella's column on the Uol website, "the treatment is done with antibiotics, especially penicillin and the safest way to prevent the disease is the use of condoms during sexual intercourse."

Dental surgeon Bruna Conde, from São Paulo, told Metropoles magazine: “Pay attention to changes in breath, cheeks, tongue and lips. Don’t just focus on white teeth, as there are aesthetically beautiful mouths that have poor oral hygiene.”

Photo: Unsplash - Tim Mossholder

Due to their interest in the social behavior of individuals, researchers decided to carry out a study to find out whether kissing is something essentially human. The result is surprising.

Photo: Unsplash - Dainis Graveris

A study was published in the magazine American Anthropologist, the study covered 168 different cultures, around the world, with the aim of investigating the presence or absence of romantic sexual kissing.

Photo: Unsplash - X

The impressive result showed that, in 54% of the cultures surveyed, there was no evidence of romantic kissing. It's hard to believe, but in other cultures, kissing is not a sign of affection or bonding. In fact, there isn't even any sign of a kiss.

According to Galileo magazine, researchers do not know why kissing is present in some cultures and not in others. However, they found a correlation between kissing and social stratification.

When investigating the difference between societies with and without kissing, researchers discovered that, in the most stratified and complex, romantic kissing is present, while in the simplest, it is not.

Photo: Unsplash - Helena Lopes

"We suspect that perhaps Western ethnocentrism, that is, the belief that our pleasurable behaviors are something essentially human, may lead us to believe that romantic kissing is universal," explain the authors of the article.

Published in 2015, the study was the first attempt to use a large, selective cultural and ethnographic sample to document the presence or absence of romantic sexual kissing.

Photo: Unsplash - Icons8 Team

The important thing is to avoid lip contact when the person has an infection in the mouth or has canker sores and wounds. Furthermore, it is recommended to talk to your partner about your health and see a doctor for periodic check-ups. Healthy habits, liberated kisses!