PICA...HE JUST LOVES TO EAT NON-NUTRITIVE THINGS

Do you know someone who loves eating non-nutritive substances?.. maybe more specifically; chalk and clay. Some even give you reasons as to why they eat them and yet, there you are still trying to figure out ’what’s really his problem’… Hey, I am not saying the person has any problem because sometimes it could be caused by pregnancy. What causes a person to just start eating chalk? .that was also the first question I asked myself sometimes past before encountering the word.. PICA!!

 Many young kids put nonfood items in their mouths at one time or another. They're naturally curious about their environment and might, for instance, eat some dirt out of the sandbox.  Kids with pica, however, go beyond this innocent exploration of their surroundings. Between 10% and 30% of kids ages of 1 to 6 years have the eating disorder pica, which is characterized by persistent and compulsive cravings (lasting 1 month or longer) to eat nonfood items.

Pica is more commonly seen in women and children, where it affects people of all ages in these subgroups. Particularly it is seen in pregnant women, small children, and those with developmental disabilities such as autism. For children with autism, suffering from pica disorder has seemed to be even more dangerous.

Ok, now we know atleast that there are chances that a person who eats these things probably started eating them as a child and grew up with it..so how then do we know someone who has Pica? Simple;

• repetitive consumption of nonfood items, despite efforts to restrict it, for a period of at least 1 month or longer
• the behavior is considered inappropriate for your child's age or developmental stage (older than 18 to 24 months)
• the behavior is not part of a cultural, ethnic, or religious practice

But why in the first place did they start eating those things?..i belie ve it’s just logical to ask the question. Why?

• nutritional deficiencies, such as iron or zinc, that may trigger specific cravings (however, the nonfood items craved usually don't supply the minerals lacking in the person's body)
• dieting — people who diet may attempt to ease hunger by eating nonfood substances to get a feeling of fullness
• malnutrition, especially in underdeveloped countries, where people with pica most commonly eat soil or clay
• cultural factors — in families, religions, or groups in which eating nonfood substances is a learned practice
• parental neglect, lack of supervision, or food deprivation — often seen in children living in poverty
• developmental problems, such as mental retardation, autism, other developmental disabilities, or brain abnormalities
• mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia
• pregnancy, but it's been suggested that pica during pregnancy occurs more frequently in women who exhibited similar practices during their childhood or before pregnancy or who have a history of pica in their family

Treatment

Treatment should first address any missing nutrients or other medical problems, such as lead poisoning.

Treating pica involves behaviors, the environment, and family education. One form of treatment associates the pica behavior with negative consequences or punishment (mild aversion therapy). Then the person gets positive reinforcement for eating normal foods.

Medications may help reduce the abnormal eating behavior if pica is part of a developmental disorder such as mental retardation.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Treatment success varies. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months, then disappears on its own. In some cases, it may continue into the teen years or adulthood, especially when it occurs with developmental disorders.

Possible Complications

• Bezoar (a mass of undigestible material trapped inside the body, usually in the stomach)
• Infection
• Intestinal obstruction
• Lead poisoning
• Malnutrition

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you notice that a child (or adult) is eating non-food materials.

BY: OPEOLUWA ADETOLA

FOREIGN ACCENT SYNDROME

Karen Butler woke up from dental surgery with an accent from a faraway place.

After the anesthesia wore off, the Indiana-native-turned-Oregon-resident was perplexed to hear her American English suddenly shift to a hodgepodge of British, Irish and European pronunciations, according to a National Public Radio piece.

Considering her speech change temporary, Butler's doctor suggested it would go away after the swelling in her mouth reduced. But the accent stayed well after she recovered.

To be considered with extreme skepticism: Singaporean media reports that, after a motorbike wreck, a Malaysian 17-year-old woke up in the hospital speaking four new languages: Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indonesian.

It's not as cool as it sounds. According to the New Straits Times, the "language changes every day," he mother said, and the family learns the langauge du jour only after the girl performs her morning prayers. The new language kicks in only between dawn and 6 p.m. And if her brain deigns to speak Chinese or Korean that day, she's forced to communicate with her mom in hand gestures until the effect wears off.

When Karen Butler went in for dental surgery, she left with more than numb gums: She also picked up a pronounced foreign accent. It wasn't a fluke, or a joke — she'd developed a rare condition called foreign accent syndrome that's usually caused by an injury to the part of the brain that controls speech.

Butler was born in Bloomington, Ill., and moved to Oregon when she was a baby. She's never traveled to Europe or lived in a foreign country — she's an American, she says, "born and bred."

But she doesn't sound like one anymore. Her accent is now a hodgepodge of English, Irish and perhaps a bit of other European accents.

The problem started about a year and a half ago, when she was put under anesthesia while the dentist removed several teeth.

"I just went to sleep and I woke up and my mouth was all sore and swollen, and I talked funny. And the dentist said, 'You'll talk normal when the swelling goes down,' " Butler says.

The swelling soon went away, but the foreign accent didn't. Neurologist Ted Lowenkopf, director of the Providence Stroke Center in Portland, diagnosed her with foreign accent syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

"It's usually the result of a brain injury," Lowenkopf says, "which can come from stroke, head trauma or other diseases that can damage brain tissue, like multiple sclerosis."

There have been only about 100 known cases of the syndrome since it was first reported in the 1940s. The most famous case was a Norwegian woman who was hit by shrapnel in World War II; she developed a German accent and was ostracized as a result.

Other cases include a British woman from Devon who developed a Chinese accent following a migraine, and another British woman who had a stroke and now sounds French.

Lowenkopf says FAS affects only a small area of speech — just the pattern and intonation. Strokes and brain trauma usually cause major damage to the brain and leave people with far bigger speech problems than just a change in accent.

Butler may have suffered a small stroke while she was under anesthesia, but she won't know for sure unless she has a brain scan. (She says her insurance company won't pay for one.) Lowenkopf says comparing an old scan that Butler received years ago to a new one could shed some light on what happened.

In the meantime, it's possible that Butler could get her American accent back through intensive speech therapy. But unlike other people with FAS who have become depressed by their change in accent, Butler quite likes her new one. She says it has made her more outgoing and is a good conversation starter.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND SYNDROME

     Alice was really in Wonderland, sometimes she was seeing small things, sometimes they were much bigger than her, but people with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome look too small and too big whatever the object is. For example, they see their own house with size of their dog’s house, they can see a bird big as dinosaur, etc. This perception disorder is a result of change in perception as opposed to the eyes themselves malfunctioning. 
  A rare form of migraine, Alice in Wonderland Syndrome causes people to see their own bodies or those of others or everyday objects askew. It typically occurs without a headache, but is usually associated with personal or family history of standard migraines. It can  impact vision (size or depth), hearing, touch and sense of time, causing it either to seem accelerated or or slowed down.


The syndrome was first described in 1955 by the English psychiatrist John Todd (1914-1987). Todd named it, of course, for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Perhaps not coincidentally, Lewis Carroll suffered from severe migraine. Also known as a Lilliputian hallucination.


"It's not dangerous," says headache expert Dr. William Young. "I've never met anybody who has so many that it affects their life in a severe way, once they're reassured that it doesn't indicate a dangerous or ominous thing."


Young, a neurologist from the Jefferson Headache Center at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, says millions of Americans have typical migraine aura. "We know their brains are normal, superficially."   But, "periodically, they misbehave," he says.


Auras, visual sensations which precede a migraine, can be triggered by stress, certain foods and wine and typically last from five to 60 minutes. The triggers of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome are lesser understood, but certain prescribed medications including migraine-preventing topiramate or a hard blow to the head can set it off.


Experts believe Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is probably underreported because patients  are reluctant to talk about their odd experiences. About 300 in the U.S. have the condition, Young estimates. It mostly occurs in children. Among the thousands of headache patients Young has seen, only four have the syndrome.

"My [Alice in Wonderland] patients have the perception of things being wrong," Young says. "The original descriptions were their own bodies being out of whack."

Dr. Kathy Lee, a pediatric ophthalmologist from Boise, Idaho, says her young patients with the condition often complain about the chalkboard at school being too far away (teleopsia), which may lead to a wasted trip to the eye doctor.

"It's not an eye problem, per se. It's a brain interpretation of vision," says Lee, who often just assures parents that their kids will be fine. "These (images) are generated by the brain, not the eyes."

Treating an episode of Alice in Wonderland syndrome may be like trying to catch a harried rabbit. But medications used to prevent migraines may provide help for those with frequent episodes, Young says.

While children with Alice in Wonderland syndrome may grow out of it into regular migraines, Young says symptoms may warrant a check up for less common but more serious conditions, including epilepsy, brain tumors and encephalitis (brain infection).

TOP TEN STRANGEST DISEASES..READE

YOU STILL COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR CONDITION OR SITUATION?... BY THE TIME YOU COMPLETE THIS LIST, YOU WILL BE SURE THAT YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL REGARDLESS OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE.. Some of the images in this article are explicit and viewer discretion is advised.

10. Elephantiasis

This extremely unfortunate disease is caused my mosquitos transmitting small parasitic worms into the host, which causes certain areas of the body to swell up to over 10 times their normal size. Whilst the disease is caused by these parasitic worms, to actually contract the disease still involves several factors to occur including the host’s immune system reaction, meaning someone suiffering this disease has had several decisions go the wrong way! Common parts of the body to swell up include the legs and genitalia.

9. Progeria

This genetic condition is characterised by the appearance of aging associated with elderly people becoming apparent at an extremely early age. Sufferers will have wrinkled skin, brittle bones, limited growth and baldness. People who suffer from Progeria will also typically have a small jaw and nose. It is possible that Progeria may have been the inspiration to the short story “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” about a boy who aged backwards, and Progeria was also seen in the movie Jack starring Robin Williams about a boy who aged 4 times faster than normal. Because of the rarity of the disease and the short expected life span of its sufferers, there are estimated less than 100 people currently alive with the disease at any one time. There is no cure.

8. Hypertrichosis – Werewolf Syndrome

Hypertrichosis, or the Werewolf Syndrome as it is commonly dubbed, is excessive hair growth in abmornal places, most significantly the face. Severe sufferers look similar to how werewolfs are depicted in film, hence the name. The disease can be from birth or acquired. Many people suffering from Hypertrichosis have been known to entertain by becoming “circus freaks”. If the disorder was from birth, then there is no known cure, and it was acquired during later life, then fighting the underlying causes should cure the problem. Other than the aesthetic problems, sufferers of Hypertrichosis can live an otherwise normal life.

7. Human Papilloma Virus

The Human Papilloma Virus by itself it a relatively harmless and common problem which is often symptom less or only apparent in small warts, but when combined with immune system deficiencies can result in bizarre root like growths all over the body, resembling the roots you would expect to find on a tree. This is what happened to Indonesian man Ded Koswara, dubbed the “Tree Man” who contracted the unusual version of the condition after cutting his knee. A series of operations and Vitamin A tablets have helped the problem, but Dede knows he will never have perfectly normal body.

6. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive

This unusual genetic disease is characterized by extra or elongated bones. The mutations can occur when the body is damaged and attempts to repair itself, causing mutation of the bones or extra bones. Often early symptoms will be elongated toes or fingers, and latter stages can affect the spine. There is no cure for Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive.

5. Moebius Syndrome

This unfortunate disease involves the sufferer having complete facial paralysis, including the inability to move ones eyes or eat and often can have trouble breathing. Sometimes the disease can also effect the chest and other limbs but people who have Moebius Syndrome often will have completely normal intelligence. Sadly there is no known cure to completely rid of the disorder.

4. Blaschko’s lines

Blaschko's lines are an extremely rare and unexplained phenomenon of human anatomy. Blaschko's lines are an invisible pattern built into human DNA. Many inherited and acquired diseases of the skin or mucosa manifest themselves according to these patterns, creating the visual appearance of stripes. Many people will have a V sign on their back and S signs on their chests.

3. Ichthyosis

Ichthyosis is a genetic skin disorder were upon the sufferer will exhibit dry, flaky or even scaly skin. Often in severe cases of the disease, the skin of the people it inflicts can resemble the skin of a fish. There are cures to Ichthyosis which often involve hydration of the dry skin using oils and gels.

2. Proteus Syndrome

This disease causes unusual bone growths to appear making the sufferer seem deformed. Victims to Proteus Syndrome may also suffer accelerated head growth, and this can lead to other serious health issues. An example of this disease was seen in the movie “Mask” and it is this disease that many people now believe Joseph Merrick (a.k.a. the Elephant Man”) suffered from. Despite ongoing research, no real cure has yet to be found.

1. Necrotizing fasciitis – the flesh eating disease

Commonly dubbed the flesh eating disease because this extremely awful ailment literally causes the layers of skin to rot away. Thankfully a rare infection, those unlucky enough to fall foul of it will experience extreme pain in the infected area, which leads to swollen, red skin and ultimately will see their skin rot away. Necrotizing fasciitis can enter the body alarmingly easily, through any cut or bruise. The only successful treatment is removing infected tissue, which often can mean amputation of limbs.

THE VAMPIRE DISEASE..PORPHYRIA

Porphyria symptoms bear striking similarities to characteristics associated with Vampires of literature and film. Could this explain origins of the age-old legend?

The Vampire Disease, or porphyria in scientific term, is a set of genetic disorders characterized by the malfunction of the hemoglobin production. It is a rare disease that is said to originate from the intermarriages of the European nobility. The good news is, it is not contagious. Unfortunately, it is not curable.

While the term “porphyria” is relatively new, the disease itself has been in existence since the beginning of time. It is referred to, before, as a liver or a blood disease due to its symptoms. It was later called the “Vampire Disease” and was actually the start of the vampire legend.

People suffering from porphyria have symptoms manifested by mythological vampires. Their skin is sensitive to sunlight, their urine is reddish to purplish in color, the gums are shrunk making the teeth looking more prominent and canine-like and they have an averse reaction to garlic. Likewise, people suffering from porphyria will feel constant abdominal pains, will have increased hair growth, bouts of vomits and tightened skin.

The Vampire Disease is the reason why vampires can be considered real. They exist because the folks during the era of the Inquisition refer to patients with porphyria as “vampires”. However, they are far from what we now see on TV or the movies. They are not dangerous, in fact they are sick. The facts enumerated hereunder are the reasons that gave birth to the comtemporary vampires that we now know of.

1)   Sensitive to sunlight – When a porphyria sufferer is exposed to the rays of the sun, his skin and face get disfigured and blackened. It also ruptures and swells and the resulting sores have thick hair growing from it.

2)   Fangs – The fangs that vampires have are actually the appearance that a porphyria patient gets when his ears and nose start to be eaten away resulting to red lips that peel back from his receding gums. This results into the exposed fang-like teeth that are quite gruesome and frightening in appearance.

3)   Drinking of blood – Since porphyria patients have purple-colored urine, it is widely believe then that this was because they drink blood. Aside from this however, there were really some instances when they did drink blood. However, it was animal blood that they used to drink as a means to relieve their anemia and pain.

4)   Garlic to ward-off vampires – It may come as a surprise but even this has basis. Porphyria patients has aversion to garlic since the chemicals contained in it aggravates their symptoms. They can experience agonizing pain because of garlic.

5)   No reflection in mirrors - It is believed that it must be very hard for any porphyria sufferer to see his appearance once he reached the later stage of the disease where he would have his nose, ears and lips eaten away and his canine-like teeth exposed in an ugly grin. Thus, it is but normal for him to avoid mirrors so as not to see his own deplorable reflection.

6)   Aggresiveness – Those with acute porphyria are diagnosed to be irritable, uncooperative, violent and aggressive. They would swear and are basically disinhibited. This may be the reason they are taken to be dangerous.

Porphryia in History

Victims of porphyria, due to fear and superstition, subsequently became victims of the law during the 16th century, a time when the Inquisition was flourishing. Individuals suffering from revolting disfigurement faced doctors who wouldn’t or didn’t know how to treat the disease. This left them at the mercy of church officials who demanded they confess their sins or face death by fire.

Approximately 600 people suffering from prophyria during this time were burned at the stake. This could explain flolkore that has vampires repelled by crucifix-wearing priests. Porphyria victims of that era would likely have associated the church with danger and have had an aversion to religious symbols.

Similarities between the clinical symptoms displayed by porphyria sufferers and the many manifestations of Vampirism cited in folklore and legend are too numerous for this to be mere coincidence. It is much more likely that these tales have their origins in this medical condition and provide us a glimpse into how human beings originate such legends and myths that live on into modern times.

It is ironical that those with porphyria, who were supposed to be getting medical help, were instead feared, abhorred and was burned at the stake during the Inquisition by no less than the church officials. About 600 of them were burned at the stake during this period. This is where the idea that vampires are repelled by crucifix originated. This is also the reason why porphyria victims, and so are “vampires”, are afraid of the church and anything that symbolizes it.

Today, porphyria has mutated to sets of disorders. It is not common but may be present in 1 out of 10,000. A battery of tests has to be done for it to be diagnosed. It is not curable but it may be contained through regular blood transfusion. It can also be controlled if the patient will have a healthy lifestyle.

With the knowledge about porphyria, people are made aware of the scientific basis of vampires. Most importantly, it will be known that the original concept about vampires is way too far from the truth. Instead of fearing them, people with Vampire Disease should instead be given love and taken cared of

Sources:

“Scientific Basis for Dracula.” Skeptic Magazine 1998, Vol 6, Issue 4, pg. 20

Lane, Nick, “New Light on Medicine.” Scientific American Jan. 2003, Vol. 288, Issue 1

Appell, David, “Out of the Darkness.” Current Science 1999, Vol. 85, Issue 1, pg. 10

“The Science of Halloween.” Economist Magazine Oct. 1998, Vol. 349, Issue 8092

WALKING DEAD SYNDROME..COTARD'S SYNDROME

There are many rare mental disorders in the world. Cotard's Syndrome or Walking Corpse syndrome is one of them. Cotord's Syndrome is when a person thinks that they have died, lost their soul, or lost a vital organ, when in fact they have lost nothing. They may even think they do not have blood.


This disorder has been linked to many other disorders including Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Other than mental illness this disorder can come about when there is a problem with the persons brain, such as an injury. Some people with this disorder may feel immortal. Although this feeling is very rare among those that have Cotord's Syndrome. They may test their own mortality by attempting suicide. So you can see that this disorder is very dangerous to the person who has it.

This disorder was named after Jules Cotard, a French neurologist. He first discovered this disorder as well as had a patient with it. He explained in a lecture that she did not believe in god or the devil and did not believe she had certain body parts. She also didn't think that she had to eat. There are a few other cases that are documented throughout history, this one being in the 1800's. There are a few cases more recently, such as the one in 1994. A man thought that he did not have a stomach, thus he was starving himself. There are even more recent cases in the 2000's.

Since this disorder is so rare the right treatments for it are unknown. Many psychiatrists have tried antipsychotic therapy, but this does not seem to work. There have been four cases however that have been helped using electroconvulsive therapy. Electroconvulsive therapy is when electrodes are attached to the top of a person’s head and electricity is administered to the brain, to cause a seizure. This is also used in very severe cases of depression.

As you can see there is still much to be learned from this disorder. Since Walking Corpse Syndrome is so rare psychologists and psychiatrists know little about it. Further research in this area can better determine if the therapy used today is the most effective treatment available. Although Electroconvulsive therapy seems to help it can also damage patients. This kind of treatment leads to memory loss in some cases severe memory loss. Although rare this strange disorder is very real to those who have it.

Symptoms of this mental disorder vary between individuals, but share the common trait of being bizarre. Sometimes, patients think they have died or lost their soul; other patients deny the existence of their body parts, from limbs to organs inside the body. Some patients think that they do not have blood. 

The inability to recognize the body is an extremely dangerous condition, as no care will be given to it.
According to an article on www.associatedcontent.com, one patient starved himself because he did not think he had a stomach. The original patient studied by Cotard started to think she did not have to eat, and believed she could never die naturally. Another article on www.healthdoc.info, describes a case in which another patient, in 1996, thought he died of either AIDS, yellow fever, or septicemia, a disease where pathogens are present in the blood stream. In addition, he thought his soul was taking a trip in hell, while his physical body was asleep elsewhere.

People are not born with disease, but rather acquire it through some mental illness or physical injury. Different parts of the brain control the way a person perceives the world, and when these parts are injured, perception can be altered. Walking Corpse Syndrome is thought to be related to depression, schizophrenia, and derealization, a condition in which the world, or one’s self, feels unreal. 
Head trauma, like in a case in which a motorcycle accident caused this disorder, can be the cause of an altered perception as well. Cortard’s Syndrome is also believed to be related to Capgras Syndrome, a disorder that causes one to believe a person, usually a family member or close friend, has been replaced by an impostor. 

According to www.psychnet-uk.com, Capgras Syndrome results when the brain does not consciously recognize faces. Similarly, Cortard’s Syndrome may result when a person sees his own face or body but is unable to recognize it as himself. Therefore, the brain perceives the individual as someone else, resulting in a belief that the true self is nonexistent. 

This disorder presents itself subconsciously — just as we know we are alive and recognize ourselves, people who suffer from this syndrome act as if they truly believe their body does not exist.
Because of the rarity of the disorder, effective treatment is not known. 

Antidepressant drugs do not seem to have much effect on individuals with the disorder. However, electroconvulsive therapy has been shown to be effective in certain cases, curing patients of the disorder. 
Electroconvulsive therapy involves inducing a seizure in a certain area of the brain, causing a person to lose consciousness and convulse for 15 seconds. 
The mechanisms of electroconvulsive therapy are still not known, but it has shown to be effective for treating many mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
This disease is still mostly unheard of and not well-understood; treatments are still largely experimental. 

However, for the select few who are affected by this disorder, what is known will help them live a normal life.




BY OPEOLUWA ADETOLA

KISSING DISEASE

Love is in the air
Germs are everywhere
Kissers beware
Of infections you can share.   

We know that kisses of passion can lead to one thing or another. But did you know that kissing can also lead to an infectious disease? Mononucleosis, or mono, is the prototypical “kissing disease,” and sexually-transmitted diseases are infamous following some romantic interludes. But did you know that there are many infections that can be spread through mere kissing alone?

Mononucleosis, or mono, is often thought of as the 'kissing disease' and as an infection that only affects teenagers. Another 'myth' about mono is that someone with mono will be sick for several months. While you can get mono from kissing, you can also get it from other forms of close contact. Also, although many kids do take several months to recover from mono, some are sick for a week or two.

Infectious Diseases in Saliva

Infectious diseases are spread through several routes of transmission. “Oral transmission” refers to spreading of microbes through saliva, foods or drinks. When a person accidentally consumes microbe-contaminated items, such as saliva during kissing, the swallowing action of the tongue wipes the microbes against the back of the throat, allowing the microbe to enter the body. Infections, such as mononucleosis (the kissing disease), caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV)are spread via oral transmission from virus-containing saliva.

Other infectious microbes that spread through saliva do so by sticking to the inner surface of the cheeks and mouth, the tongue, or teeth. An example is the bacterium Streptococcus, which can cause an array of infections, including gum disease and strep throat.

An important thing to keep in mind is that the surfaces of the respiratory tract (nose, mouth, and throat) are continuous and made up of similar tissues. As a result, microbes that are found in the saliva can generally be found in other parts of the respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. Therefore, even colds and flus (and other respiratory infections) can potentially be spread through the saliva.

Infectious Diseases from Mouth Sores

Cold sores
Cold sores are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1). In contrast to infections spread through the saliva, HSV-1 is spread through open cold sores on the lips or near the mouth. Although the infection is contagious through all stages of a cold sore, the infection is most contagious when the sore is open and leaking fluid.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease 
Hand, foot, and mouth disease, caused by Coxsackie virus, is another infectious disease that is spread through open sores in the mouth. This infection is common in kids, especially those in daycare or preschool settings. It spreads primarily via the fecal-oral route, a common problem among daycares, since changing of diapers goes on all day.

But canker sores are not infectious. 
In contrast to cold sores and coxsackie virus blisters, canker sores have no infectious disease origin and cannot be spread through the saliva or kissing.

What about HIV and Hepatitis B Virus?

HIV and hepatitis B Virus (HBV) are blood-borne and sexually-transmitted infections that have been found in the saliva. Despite the presence of HIV in saliva, there have never been any reports of HIV transmission via this route. In contrast, transmission of hepatitis B virus through saliva has been well documented, as well as hepatitis A and C.

Natural Microbial Defense Mechanisms in the Mouth

Saliva has a natural cleansing role, provided by its flushing activity. Other antimicrobial defenses in the saliva include antibodies and other antimicrobial proteins (e.g., lysozyme), and normal mouth flora (the “good” bacteria that prevents growth of “bad” bacteria).

The spread of infectious microbes through the saliva can occur when natural resistance in the mouth is reduced. For example, gum infections can occur in people with vitamin C deficiencies, and thrush, caused by Candida yeast infections, is more likely to occur in people who have been taking antibiotics. People who are dehydrated have reduced salivary flow and four times more bacteria in their mouths.

Preventing Kissing Diseases

Be careful who you kiss. 

Source:

Mims CA, Playfair JH, Roitt, IM, Wakelin D, Williams R, and Anderson RM. Medical Microbiology. ©1993. Mosby-Year Book Europe Limited. London, UK.