Role of friendly kissing in Molluscum contagiosum infection of the face

Molluscum Contagiosum” is a common skin disease caused by”molluscum contagiosum virus". It is primarily transmitted by direct contact of viral particles of infected skin and the human is the natural host. In adults, most of the cases are transmitted by sexual contacts.The friendly kissing habit could be responsible of transmission of “molluscum contagiosum” infections. A clinical descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Ramadi Teaching Hospital and Private Dermatological and Maxillofacial Clinics, Ramadi City, Anbar Governorate, Iraq. From august 2019 to April 2020. Patients more than fifteen years old, with” molluscum contagiosum” of the face were enrolled in this study. A through history was taken regarding age, genders, marital status, residence and drugs intake. The questionnaire contains history of kissing habits as greeting behavior besides the other roles that suspected in spreading of infection. A total of 45 patients were recruited. Their mean (± SD) age was 37±17.8 years (range 15–59 years); 39(86.7%) were males, and 6(13.3%) were females. The right cheek kisser was the most common habit in 36(80%) patients, while 9(20%) patients had the both sides kisser. Other routes of infection also reported but with small percentage. This report showed that ” molluscum contagiosum” infection with high frequency which involved the right side of the face was in 33(73.3%) patients, and which had low frequency was in 6(13.3%)patients for each left or both sides of the face. ” Molluscum contagiosum” of the right side of the face was statistically significant associated with the right cheek kisser, p < 0.05. In conclusion, Friendly kissing as a greeting can play important role in the spread of “molluscum contagiosum” infection. Furthermore, social pressure to discontinue face kissing habit as a greeting or restrict kissing of right shoulder (covered with cloth).