Devastated couple issue warning over kissing babies after their newborn dies
A Sussex couple are raising awareness of the dangers of kissing babies, after losing their newborn at just one month-old
Warning: This article contains discussion of baby loss which some readers may find distressing.
The parents of a baby who died from an infection have issued a warning against kissing and touching newborn babies.
Violet-May Constantinou, the daughter of Hayley Riches and Dimitri Constantinou, was diagnosed with the herpes virus at just eight days old and tragically died.
Hayley and Dimitri are now looking to raise awareness of the dangers of family and friends touching and kissing babies, telling fellow parents and caregivers to think twice before allowing people to come close to their children.
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Opening up about the heartbreaking situation, the couple told ITV: "We are always scared and we always will be.
"You never know what sort of viruses are out there."
The couple realised something was wrong when their daughter refused to feed and her skin began to appear yellow.
Little Violet was rushed to hospital, where she diagnosed with neonatal herpes, and although she was given anti-viral medication, her condition worsened.
At Southhampton Hospital, Violet was later diagnosed with acute liver failure as a result of the infection, which meant she needed a liver transplant as soon as possible.
However, Violet died at one-month-old while waiting for the procedure.
A baby's immune system is not fully developed until later in childhood, meaning newborns are at high risk of becoming ill and catching infections.
The herpes virus (HSV) can be contracted through skin-to-skin contact, which causes infections in or around the mouth.
Most people have no symptoms or only mild ones, with those contracting oral herpes experiencing ulcers or cold sores, which can be painful and uncomfortable.
However, some people suffer through more extreme symptoms such as fever, bodily aches and pains, swollen lymph nodes, headaches and more.
For a newborn, who relies on their mother's antibodies during the first few weeks of their lives, this infection is incredibly dangerous.
"This is why you have to be slightly protective and be aware," Hayley told the Mirror. "If you have got a cold sore don't go near a baby because it is deadly and can kill them."
Violet's parents are unaware of how their daughter contracted herpes, with no one in their family having cold sores at the time, and reckon that it must have been an outside source.
The Lullaby Trust, a charity centred around keeping babies safe and supporting grieving families, have since emphasised the dangers of letting family and friends kiss babies.
The trust conducted a study in 2023 which concluded that 54 percent of new and expecting parents would let friends and family kiss their newborn baby, unaware of the risk of serious infection.
The charity have campaigned against these issues with the T-H-A-N-K-S guidelines, which are as follows: Think, Hands And No KisseS.
This helpful acronym offers advice on washing hands and keeping away from babies if you feel unwell, and definitely no kissing.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Merryn Hobson