{"id":182160,"date":"2025-06-13T22:03:13","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T22:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/182160\/"},"modified":"2025-06-13T22:03:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T22:03:13","slug":"my-baby-daughter-died-from-a-virus-that-can-be-passed-on-by-a-kiss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/182160\/","title":{"rendered":"My baby daughter died from a virus that can be passed on by a kiss"},"content":{"rendered":"

A mum is urging people not to kiss newborn babies, after she tragically lost her daughter to a virus some people don’t even realise they\u2019re carrying.<\/p>\n

Hailey Riches, 25, from Billingshurst, Sussex, had a healthy pregnancy and gave birth to her daughter Violet-May Constantinou via emergency C-section on 22 March 2023.<\/p>\n

Everything seemed fine at first, but she noticed something wasn\u2019t right within days of returning home.<\/p>\n

Violet had started feeding less, seemed tired, and developed a yellow tone to her skin.<\/p>\n

A health visitor advised the family to check for jaundice, and Hailey took her to Worthing Hospital. But the levels didn\u2019t appear concerning, and Violet was sent home.<\/p>\n

“I remember feeling like something was off,” Hailey says. “But I also didn\u2019t want to overreact. We were told things looked OK.”<\/p>\n

Over the next few days, Violet\u2019s condition worsened. She continued to struggle with feeding and developed a temperature. At just eight days old, Hailey took her back to hospital \u2013 and this time, doctors admitted her.<\/p>\n

\"Neonatal<\/p>\n

Neonatal herpes is often spread through kissing and Hailey Riches wants to make sure other parents know the danger. (Hayley Riches\/SWNS)<\/p>\n

Blood tests and a lumbar puncture showed Violet had neonatal herpes<\/a> (HSV-1), a dangerous viral infection in newborns caused by the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores and genital ulcers in adults.<\/p>\n

Violet was given antiviral medication straight away, but her condition deteriorated rapidly. She began having seizures and was moved to Southampton Hospital for intensive care.<\/p>\n

“The doctors told us they\u2019d be surprised if she survived the next 24 to 48 hours,” Hailey continues. “It was terrifying.”<\/p>\n

Violet was soon flown to King\u2019s College Hospital in London after doctors realised she was experiencing acute liver failure. She was placed at the highest priority for a liver transplant in the UK but she died in hospital on 21 April, at exactly one month old, still waiting for a transplant.<\/p>\n

“It was absolutely traumatising,” Hailey says.<\/p>\n

“Every day, there was something new. Her lungs were affected, her brain, and she went into cardiac arrest \u2013 we watched her be resuscitated for nine minutes. It just kept getting worse until we had to say goodbye.”<\/p>\n

\n

Be persistent. I\u2019d rather overreact and be told everything\u2019s fine than not say something and regret it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

No visible symptoms<\/strong><\/p>\n

Doctors told Hailey and her fianc\u00e9, Dimitri Constantinou, 30, that they would likely never know exactly how Violet contracted the virus. Neither parent had visible symptoms or a history of cold sores or genital herpes.<\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t have genital herpes. None of us had cold sores,” Hailey says. “They told us it probably came from someone outside, but we\u2019ll never know who. Anyone can carry and pass the virus, even if they have no symptoms.”<\/p>\n

HSV-1 is a common virus mostly spread through oral contact; things like kissing, sharing cutlery, or close face-to-face interaction. While harmless to most adults, in young babies with no immune protection, it can be fatal.<\/p>\n

“I see people online saying, \u2018Why can\u2019t I kiss a baby that\u2019s not mine?\u2019” Hailey says.<\/p>\n

“And it really frustrates me. You don\u2019t know what someone\u2019s been through. This isn\u2019t to scare people \u2013 it\u2019s to protect babies who can\u2019t protect themselves.”<\/p>\n

After losing Violet, Hailey was understandably anxious when she became pregnant again. In August 2024, she and Dimitri welcomed their second daughter, Lily. But the early weeks were filled with fear.<\/p>\n

“We were told the first six weeks are the most critical. I didn\u2019t let anyone kiss her, and I made sure people washed their hands before holding her. I was much more protective than I ever expected to be, and that\u2019s OK.”<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The couple welcomed a second daughter, Lily, but want to make sure what happened to Violet-May doesn’t happen to others. (Hayley Riches \/SWNS)<\/p>\n

Raising awareness<\/p>\n

Hailey, who works as a speciality coordinator for the NHS, is now sharing her family\u2019s story to raise awareness. She wants to empower other parents to speak up and trust their instincts.<\/p>\n

“If your baby doesn\u2019t seem right \u2013 feed changes, tiredness, temperature \u2013 please get them checked,” she says. “Be persistent. I\u2019d rather overreact and be told everything\u2019s fine than not say something and regret it.”<\/p>\n

\n

I see people online saying, \u2018Why can\u2019t I kiss a baby that\u2019s not mine?\u2019 And it really frustrates me. This isn\u2019t to scare people \u2013 it\u2019s to protect babies who can\u2019t protect themselves.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

She also hopes people understand just how serious neonatal herpes can be and are more cautious around babies.<\/p>\n

“You might not have any symptoms at all, but that doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re not carrying the virus,\u201d Hailey says. “Don\u2019t take the risk. A kiss might seem harmless, but it could cost a life.”<\/p>\n

Hailey thanked the Southampton Hospital, King\u2019s College staff and the Ronald McDonald House charity, who supported them throughout Violet\u2019s treatment.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re so grateful for the care and compassion we were shown,” she says. \u201cWe\u2019ll never forget it, just like we\u2019ll never forget Violet.”<\/p>\n

What is neonatal herpes?<\/p>\n

Neonatal herpes is a rare but serious infection in newborn babies caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It can be passed to a baby in pregnancy and labour if the mum has had genital herpes within the last six weeks of pregnancy.<\/p>\n

After birth, it can be passed on when a baby is kissed by someone with the virus.<\/p>\n

There are two types of HSV:<\/strong><\/p>\n