Can You Get Pneumonia From Kissing

Zoonotic Illnesses You Can Get From Your Pet

These are a few of the more common diseases you might get from your pet. People with weak immune systems, such as those with HIV/AIDS, may be more vulnerable than healthy individuals and should take special care.

Rabies

Caused by a virus and spread through bites, rabies is a disease that affects the nervous system and is generally fatal. Early signs may be fever or headache. This can quickly develop into symptoms of confusion, sleepiness, or agitation. Although rabies can be spread from pets such as a dog or cat, you are more likely to get it from a wild animal.

Reduce the risk of rabies:

• Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date.
• Do what you can to prevent your pet having contact with wild animals.
• Have animal control remove any stray animals. Don’t try to care for them yourself.
• Tell your doctor right away if an animal bites you.

Toxoplasmosis

Caused by a protozoan organism, toxoplasmosis may cause flu-like symptoms in some people. If you’re pregnant or getting ready to become pregnant, it is particularly important to be aware of this disease, as it can infect a fetus and cause a miscarriage or serious birth defect. You are most likely to get toxoplasmosis from eating partially cooked meat or from contact with animal feces while gardening. But you can also get it from contact with contaminated cat feces. It is important to change a cat’s litter box daily if it is cleaned within a 24-hour period, it is likely not infective.

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Reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis:

What Is The Incubation Period For Pneumonia

The incubation period for pneumonia depends on the type of pathogen causing the disease, the person’s age, and his or her overall health. In general, most pneumonias begin with symptoms similar to those of a cold or the flu that last longer than the flu and become more severe. The signs and symptoms of pneumonia include

How Are Cold Sores Treated

Treatment for cold sores focuses on relieving and shortening symptoms. For people with frequent outbreaks, treatment works to decrease how often future episodes. Treatments may include:

• Prescription or over-the-counter pain medicines. These can help with discomfort, especially if sores are inside the mouth.

• Antiviral medicines. These may be pills that are taken by mouth or a cream to apply to sores. They may help shorten an outbreak and reduce the severity of symptoms. They may be used to help prevent future outbreaks if you have disabling recurrent infections.

• Self-care such as extra rest and drinking more fluids. These may help relieve the flu-like symptoms of a first outbreak.

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Can You Get Zika From Kissing

The likelihood of getting Zika from kissing is extremely rare

The bite of an infected mosquito is the main route of transmission

Another possible route is through vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected person

Can you get Zika from kissing? Theoretically, yes, as long the virus is active and the kiss is more than a quick smooch.

We know that Zika can live in saliva about as long as it persists in blood, which is an average of seven days, said Dr. John Brooks, senior medical adviser at the Office of Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That might lead someone to worry about whether they can get Zika from kissing.

But were talking about deep kissing, or French kissing, where a lot of saliva is exchanged and the tongue goes into the partners mouth, explained Dr. William Schaffner, medical director at the National Foundation for Infectious Disease. It would have to be what I call passionate kissing.

Sounds scary. So lets ask the next important question: How likely are you to get Zika from kissing even if its the deep, passionate variety?

It certainly wouldnt stop me from giving my wife a kiss, Brooks agreed. While we can never say never when it comes to this virus, if deep kissing alone was a significant means of transmission, we would know by now.

It Might Feel Like A Cold

Walking pneumonia is how some people describe a mild case of pneumonia. Your doctor might call it âatypical pneumoniaâ because itâs not like more serious cases.

A lung infection is often to blame. Lots of things can cause it, including:

• Bacteria
• Inhaled food

Walking pneumonia usually is due to bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

You probably wonât have to stay in bed or in the hospital. You might even feel good enough go to work and keep up your routine, just as you might with a cold.

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How Do You Get Chlamydia

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Once you are infected, this bacterium can be found in your semen or vaginal fluids.

Most people get chlamydia from having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with an infected partner. You can also get chlamydia if you share sex toys with someone who has chlamydia without washing them thoroughly. Expectant women can also pass chlamydia on to their babies during childbirth.

Its unclear whether you can get chlamydia by rubbing genitals together or having your genitals touched by fingers that have infected semen or vaginal fluids on them.

Since Chlamydia trachomatis is usually present only in semen and vaginal fluid, you cant get chlamydia from kissing, hugging, or sharing things with a person with chlamydia, including their clothes, toilets, towels, food or drinks, swimming pools or hot tubs, or beds. This is true even if these items have been contaminated with an infected persons bodily fluids, as Chlamydia trachomatis cannot survive outside the body.

Do Children Need Protection Against Pneumococcal Disease

Yes. Infants and young children in the United States need to be protected against pneumococcal disease. In fact, they are routinely vaccinated for pneumococcal disease because it is part of the standard infant immunization schedule. Pneumococcal vaccine is also recommended for older children and adolescents with kidney disease, kidney failure, or an organ transplant, even if they received the vaccine as infants. If your child hasn’t been vaccinated, talk to your doctor.

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For Most Babies And Young Children At

At-home treatment includes:

• Removing sticky nasal fluids with a bulb syringe using saline drops
• Using a cool-mist vaporizer to keep the air moist and make breathing easier
• Providing fluids in small amounts frequently through the day
• Giving non-aspirin fever-reducers such as acetaminophen

For babies with more serious cases requiring hospitalization, treatment may include:

• Oxygen
• Medications to open the airways

Illnesses You Cannot Get From Your Pet

Although there are several infectious diseases you can get from your pet, there are many more that are not naturally transmitted from pets to humans. Because pets can get diseases that are similar to those humans get, you may wonder if you can get them from your pet.

Here are some infections that sound similar to human diseases but which you cannot get from your pet:

• Feline immunodeficiency virus

Read Also: How Do Kids Get Pneumonia

Get The Necessary Vaccines

In addition, there are several vaccines that can help protect against some viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia, Cutler says.

These include the following:

• Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends this vaccine for babies and children younger than two years old and adults age 65 and older.
• Influenza vaccine. The CDC recommends everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine every year to protect against the infectious diseases and related health complications, like pneumonia.
• Hib vaccine. The CDC recommends this vaccine for all children younger than five years old. It protects against the Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria that can cause pneumonia and meningitis.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Cold Sore

Symptoms can include:

• A blister-like sore or cluster of sores. These often occur at the edge of the lips but may appear inside the mouth.

• Skin redness around the sores.

• Pain or itching in the area of the outbreak. Often the pain or itching develops 12 to 24 hours before the sore become visible.

• Flu-like symptoms, including swollen glands, headache, body ache, or fever. These typically occur only at the time of the first infection.

Cold sores may also occur on fingers. They may rarely infect the eyes, a serious possible complication.

Some people have symptoms a day or two before an outbreak. They may feel tenderness, burning, itching, or tingling before a cold sore appears. Cold sores tend to come back in the same area that they first appeared.

Read Also: Can A Sinus Infection Turn Into Bronchitis Or Pneumonia

How Do The Lungs Work

Your lungs main job is to get oxygen into your blood and remove carbon dioxide. This happens during breathing. You breathe 12 to 20 times per minute when you are not sick. When you breathe in, air travels down the back of your throat and passes through your voice box and into your windpipe . Your trachea splits into two air passages . One bronchial tube leads to the left lung, the other to the right lung. For the lungs to perform their best, the airways need to be open as you breathe in and out. Swelling and mucus can make it harder to move air through the airways, making it harder to breathe. This leads to shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and feeling more tired than normal.

How Is It Treated

Antibiotics are the usual treatment, because the organism may not be found. But if the pneumonia is caused by a virus, antivirals may be given. Sometimes, antibiotics may be used to prevent complications.

Antibiotics usually cure pneumonia caused by bacteria. Be sure to take the antibiotics exactly as instructed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

Pneumonia can make you feel very sick. But after you take antibiotics, you should start to feel much better, although you will probably not be back to normal for several weeks. Call your doctor if you do not start to feel better after 2 to 3 days of antibiotics. Call your doctor right away if you feel worse.

There are things you can do to feel better during your treatment. Get plenty of rest and sleep, and drink lots of liquids. Do not smoke. If your cough keeps you awake at night, talk to your doctor about using cough medicine.

You may need to go to the hospital if you have bad symptoms, a weak immune system, or another serious illness.

Also Check: What Antibiotics Treat Pneumonia In Adults

Articles On Pneumonia Types

• Chemical Pneumonia

âWalking pneumonia” sounds like it could be the name of a sci-fi horror flick. But it’s actually the least scary kind of pneumonia. It can be milder than the other types, and you usually donât have to stay in the hospital. You could have walking pneumonia and not even know it.

Antibiotics Aren’t Used Because Rsv Is A Virus

Fortunately, most cases of RSV are mild and require no specific treatment from doctors. Antibiotics aren’t used because RSV is a virus and antibiotics are only effective against bacteria. Medication may sometimes be given to help open airways and to improve breathing.

In an infant, however, an RSV infection can be more serious and may require hospitalization so that the baby can be watched closely. He or she may require more fluids and possibly treatment for breathing problems.

Read Also: How Do You Know If Your Cough Is Pneumonia

Can I Have Sex When I’m Sick

Michael Menna, DO, is board-certified in emergency medicine. He is an attending emergency medicine physician at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York and also works at an urgent care center and a telemedicine company that provides care to patients across the country.

• Your Partner’s Health

When you’re sick, your sex drive doesn’t always get the memo that it should let you rest. So is it okay to have sex when you’re under the weather?

If you’ve just got the sniffles, a healthy partner may not be risking much. But they could catch whatever you have.

Respiratory illnesses are passed through droplets and saliva. Kissing, breathing close to each others’ faces, coughing, or sneezing while in close contact is a great way to spread germs.

So your partner is quite likely to get sick if you’re intimate. Whether the risk is worth it depends on what you have and what risks it may pose to your partner’s health.

This article looks at the risks of sex during illness, when you’re contagious, and what to consider for your partner’s benefit.

Verywell / Laura Porter

What To Do At Home

• if you think your child has pneumonia.
• Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat pneumonia caused by bacteria. Use all the medicine the doctor prescribes, even if your child begins to feel better.
• To prevent the spread of the germs that cause pneumonia, wash your childs hands and your hands, after wiping their nose and before preparing or eating food.
• Teach children to cover their mouths with a tissue or a sleeve , when they cough or sneeze and to wash their hands after each use. Throw used tissues into the garbage.
• Sanitize surfaces often that are touched by hands, such as toys, tables, doorknobs.
• Ensure that children ages 6 – 59 months of age receive their influenza shot, to prevent influenza and the pneumonia that can happen with influenza.
• Ensure that infants receive pneumococcal vaccine as part of their routine immunizations to prevent pneumonias caused by some bacteria.

Do not give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to a child under 6 years of age, unless your doctor tells you to.

Read Also: How To Catch Bacterial Pneumonia

How Can I Prevent Cold Sores

You can help reduce the spread of the herpes viruses that cause cold sores. This can help both you and others avoid getting cold sores. Follow these tips:

• Do not kiss others if you have a cold sore. Also avoid kissing someone with a cold sore.

• Do not share eating utensils, lip balm, razors, or towels with someone who has a cold sore.

• Wash your hands after touching the area of a cold sore. The herpes virus can be carried from your face to your hands when you touch the area of a cold sore. When this happens, wash your hands thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds. When you cant wash with soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Disinfect things you touch often, such as phones and keyboards.

• If you feel a cold sore coming on, do the same things you would do when a cold sore is present to avoid spreading the virus.

• Use condoms to help prevent passing on the viruses through sex.

Bacteria That Can Be Transmitted By Kissing

Examples of bacteria that can be transmitted during kissing include:

• Meningococcal disease this is a potentially life-threatening condition which includes meningitis, inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, and septicaemia. These bacteria can be spread either through direct contact or via droplets. Studies show that, with respect to kissing, only deep kissing seems to be a risk factor.
• Tooth decay the bacteria that cause tooth decay arent found in the mouths of newborn babies. A babys mouth must be colonised with infected saliva, which can be passed by a kiss on the lips.

Also Check: What Are The Symptoms Of Pneumonia In The Elderly

When Can I Return To Work School And Regular Activities If I Have Pneumonia

You typically can resume your normal activities if your symptoms are gone, mild or improving and you do not have new or worsening:

• Shortness of breath or tiredness
• Chest pain
• Mucus, fever or cough

If you are generally healthy, most people feel well enough to return to previous activities in about a week. However, it may take about a month to feel totally back to normal.

Kissing: How Are Germs Spread

Some illnesses spread more easily than others, but the most common way of catching something from kissing is actually before your lips even make contact! When someone else is infected, they can either breathe out infected particles into the air , or they can cough or sneeze droplets to about a metre away from them .

If you breathe in the infected material, or come into contact with it and then touch your nose or your mouth, you could get infected. You can also catch diseases during kissing, from bacteria and viruses in saliva or blood .

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Pneumonia Can Be Fatal

When you acquire pneumonia, it could affect only one lung, both lungs, or spread from one to the other. It causes the air sacs in your lungs, also called alveoli, to become inflamed. This is what makes it difficult to breathe. Doctors typically treat pneumonia with antibiotics, but it remains the leading cause of infectious disease death in children under age five across the world. As with the flu, pneumonia can also be deadly for elderly people.

Smokers and those with asthma have a greater likelihood of catching all different strains of the disease. However, bacterial infection is the most common cause among adults in the United States.

When And How Is Pneumonia Contagious

A person can spread the germs that cause pneumonia when he or she coughs and expels the bacterial or viral infections that caused the disease. The droplets containing the virus or bacteria can land on a common surface, such as a table, telephone, or computer. You could also breathe in the droplets and bring them into your own breathing tract.

The time that a person may pass along pneumonia varies depending on the type and how he or she acquired it. Additionally, some types of pneumonia are much more contagious than others. Two examples of highly contagious strains of this illness are mycoplasma and mycobacterium.

Once a person who has pneumonia starts on antibiotics, he or she only remains contagious for the next 24 to 48 hours. This can be longer for certain types of organisms, including those that cause the disease tuberculosis. In that case, someone can remain contagious for up to two weeks after starting on antibiotics. When someone has viral pneumonia, the contagious period starts to subside when the symptoms do. This is particularly true of fever. Keep in mind that someone who had pneumonia may still cough occasionally for several weeks, even after he or she is no longer contagious.

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