Baby Gunner showed none of the normal symptoms of meningitis. Photo / Mercury Press
A mother is warning parents to never kiss their babies after her newborn contracted deadly meningitis from an innocent peck.
Krystal Hayes' 9-day-old son Gunner was rushed to A&E after he developed a high temperature and could not bear to be touched, the Daily Mail reports.
Her and her partner John Gresham's "world came crashing down" when they were told the baby, who has since made a full recovery, had viral meningitis.
Doctors later told Hayes, 26, from Worksop in Nottinghamshire, the infection could have been transferred by an innocent kiss.
Hayes, a hospital porter, said: "My heartfelt advice to anyone is don't kiss a newborn baby. The worry and pain wasn't worth a thousand kisses.
"As a parent I couldn't think of anything worse than not kissing my baby before but I can now. This was one thousand times worse.
"Just an innocent kiss. Nothing more than a form of affection from someone who would love him and want no harm to ever come to him. Something so natural to do with a precious baby.
"They may feel well, look well and have no signs or symptoms of anything going on, but those tiny dormant viruses could be fatal."
She said: "I will cuddle until my heart's content but never will I kiss another newborn that doesn't belong to me and never will I kiss any of my new babies, if I have any more, on or around their mouths again.
"The worry and pain we felt that day was beyond words and wasn't worth a thousand kisses.
"My whole world came crashing down. I just kept thinking, 'what if he loses a limb or has brain damage?' It could've been a hell of a lot worse."
Hayes said: "It could have been transferred by someone who was ill. Viruses can live in you without being known so you might not have any symptoms but it could be transferred by a kiss.
"I don't think you realise as a parent that something so simple can be so dangerous.
"There are certain things you can't protect him from. Such as, walking past someone who has just sneezed, you can't avoid them.
"I don't know what the outcome would have been if we didn't realise. It doesn't bear thinking about.
"If one person takes note and doesn't let people kiss their baby than that's all that matters."
Gresham, 30, noticed something was wrong when he got up at 4am to feed Gunner. The baby was warm, but Gresham assumed it was due to the hot weather and removed the infant's blanket.
The following morning, Gunner's temperature had reached 38.9C.
His parents went to remove his vest and Gunner started crying at their touch. The youngster's breathing became very fast.
The couple knew something was wrong and a midwife told them to go to A&E immediately.
Hayes said: "They brought him straight into children's department in A&E they put him on a monitor and took his temperature and then he just started to deteriorate rapidly.
"I knew he was poorly but I didn't realise how serious it was. Things happened so quickly."
After arriving at Bassetlaw District General Hospital, Gunner started having convulsions and was barely responsive.
Blood and urine tests, as well as an X-ray, all came back clear but Gunner was given IV antibiotics along with paracetamol and ibuprofen to try to reduce his temperature.
After Gunner was stabilised, doctors performed a lumbar puncture in the lower part of his spine to test for infections, including meningitis.
Hayes said: "We could hear him from the room crying. Everything runs through your mind at that moment.
"The reality hit that it was serious. I don't think I've ever been so scared."
An ambulance then took the family to Doncaster Royal Infirmary where it was confirmed Gunner had viral meningitis.
The infant had not shown any of the more recognisable symptoms of meningitis, such as change in appetite, light sensitivity, a stiff neck, or cold hands and feet, and only developed the distinctive red-spot rash later on.
A spokesperson from Meningitis Now said: "Anyone can get viral meningitis but it is most common in babies and young children. Viral meningitis is not usually life-threatening, but can lead to more complications in young babies.
"Many different types of viruses can cause viral meningitis. Spread of these viruses is common and they can be passed from person to person by coughing, sneezing and on unwashed hands.
"Attention to good general hygiene measures, such as hand washing, will help to stop the spread of some of these viruses.
"Anyone with a cold sore (herpes simplex virus) should not kiss a young baby as there is a risk of the virus being passed on, which could cause an illness such as viral meningitis in a young baby."
Symptoms to look out for
The Meningitis Foundation of NZ has a number of great resources to learn more about what to look for. In infants, look out for symptoms such as fever (possibly with cold hands and feet), refusing feeds or vomiting, high pitched moaning cry, neck retraction with arching back and lethargy.
You can check the full list of symptoms here.
- Additional reporting, NZ Herald