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Deadly infection after a kiss Baby passed away a few days after birth
The little Mariana was only 18 days old. The girl from the US had caught a life-threatening herpes infection a few days after birth, which she did not survive. It is believed that the baby was infected by the kiss of an infected person. The mother now warns other parents, "Do not let everyone kiss your baby."
Two out of three people are infected with herpesviruses
According to health experts, two out of three people are infected with herpesviruses, the majority does not even notice. The viruses are often active only by certain influences such as stress or strong sunlight and cause, among other things, herpes in the mouth. For some people special care is needed. Adult cold sores should be very careful when in contact with small children. Because even a kiss from them could be deadly for babies, as a case from the US shows.
In the US a few days old baby died after a herpes infection. The newborn has probably been infected by the kiss of an infected person. (Image: Tobilander / fotolia.com) Parents lost a few days old baby
A worst thing happened to a young couple from the United States, which can happen to parents: they lost their child when it was only a few days old.
According to media reports, the daughter of Nicole and Shane Sifrit was born completely healthy, but infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) a few days after birth.
This pathogen can lead to meningitis. Even the little Mariana got sick.
Best Week of Life ended dramatically
Actually it should be the best week of her life. On July 1, the daughter of Nicole and Shane Sifrit from West Des Moines (US state of Iowa) was born. They called her Mariana. On July 7, the wedding of the young couple took place.
"The birth of our baby was great, it's one of the best feelings in the world when you can give birth to a child," Shane told the station WHO..
But two hours after the wedding, the parents noticed that her little one did not want to drink anymore and did not wake up.
They immediately left their own wedding and brought their child to the Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. There, the doctors found that the little girl had been infected with HSV-1.
Probably infected by a kiss
It remained unclear who the baby was infected with. Certainly not with the parents, since both the father and the mother were tested negative for the virus, as they said the transmitter "WHO".
Presumably by the kiss of another person. It is known that cold sores often pass unnoticed, because sufferers often do not even know about their infection.
The virus can quickly trigger a life-threatening situation in newborns by attacking the central nervous system, the liver, the lungs, the skin and the eyes. In addition, permanent brain damage may remain after infection
If a brain inflammation (herpes encephalitis) develops, then the signs of disease may initially resemble a flu. The infant gets a pale complexion, is impassive or restless, is shaky or crampy.
It can also cause a fever. In such cases, health professionals expect rapid treatment with antiviral drugs and intensive care.
Little girl lost the fight against the virus
For Mariana, who was taken to intensive care, the therapeutic measures have not been successful: "It went downhill suddenly. Within two hours, she had stopped breathing and all her organs were on hold, "the father explained.
Eventually she lost the fight against the virus. Mariana was only 18 days old. Parents have made their daughter's fate public to alert others to the dangers.
Her mother wrote in a post on Facebook: "We hope to save the lives of many newborns with Mariana's story."
"Do not just let everyone kiss your baby and make sure they ask for permission before picking up your baby," Nicole told the station WHO..
"And tell everyone to wash their hands before they touch the baby."
Treat herpes as early as possible
In adults, health experts advise to treat cold sores as early as possible. But what helps against herpes?
In normal course, drugs are often used to inhibit the virus multiplication. The infection does not always have to be treated with antiviral drugs.
Sometimes, home remedies for herpes, such as manuka honey or tea tree oil. From the herpes outbreak to the healing can take up to two weeks. (Ad)