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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Contact With Saliva?

Posted on Fri, 23 Oct 2015

Question: Respected Doctor, I had visited a pub at XXXXXXX day before yesterday and I had done the following activities :- * Body contact and sitting on laps. * Kissing on cheeks and touching on body * Lip kissing and tongue play but spit about the saliva. * Kissing on necks. Though the girl on her lip kissing and tongue play has done look like ok but still I am with apprehension about HIV and other related issues. There was no cuts and wounds on my mouth or tongue but small amount of cracks due to blow of wind may be there. I would like to know any possibilities of transmission of communicable diseases like HIV etc and what precautions to be taken to avoid such infections Yours sincerely xxxxx

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
HIV risk negligible.Transmission of HSV 1,bacterial throat infection likely

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM
Thanks for posting your query

A ll the activities mentioned by you are not having much risk towards HIV transmission. Saliva and sweat are not infectious as far as HIV is concerned. Body to body contact, sitting over lap, kissing on cheek and neck, touching the body carry almost no risk for HIV/STD. Deep kissing has negligible risk for HIV.
But if that girl has HSV 1 infection, there is likelihood for the same to be transmitted through kissing over lip and also there is a possibility for the transmission of non- venereal ordinary throat infections due to any bacteria (if any present) during the close intimacy.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (20 hours later)

Respected Dr,

The apprehension is that if we swallow the saliva or other liquid things while kissing or tongue play (entanglement) etc is there any possibility to get affected? Infact I did not go for sexual contact only spent some time in pubs. I would like to know what precautions to be taken while we do kissing or close mouth contacts etc. Is there any precautionary medicines or sprays etc to avoid such infections?

Is it true that HIV infectious viruses are fragile and can not sustain in air? It will only be get infected through fresh blood contact and unprotected sexual intercourse? Whether need to be get tested?

Yours sincerely

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (17 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Ruling out the remote possibility of HIV with test recommended

Detailed Answer:
Hi, Welcome back.

You already had mentioned about swallowing of saliva during kissing. That is I meant deep kissing.
Saliva is practically non infectious unless it got mixed with blood of the HIV positive individual. Even in such condition, your HIV risk is negligible only. Precaution is available for oral sex in the form of flavored condoms and not for kissing.
It is true that HIV and other STD causing organisms are highly fragile so that they can not live outside the body fluids or can not exist outside the body for more than few seconds.They can not withstand high temperatures, dryness, atmospheric Oxygen, soap and water and weak antiseptics. Only when there is an exchange of blood or internal body fluids like semen, vaginal secretions, and other internal body fluids and not through sweat, tears, saliva, urine and feces. Risk is negligible and it is not 'nil'. So better to have a test and rule out the remote possibility of HIV.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (6 hours later)

Respected Dr,

Thanks for giving prompt and appropriate reply. It is really beneficial! Now I would like to know when and what type of test is to be performed in order to know about all such infectious diseases like HIV, HSV etc. Once again thank u for furnishing requisite advice as well as guidance!

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Have the tests under the guidance of a physician

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
There are two types of tests available for HIV. Antigen detecting and antibody detection tests. Antigen based tests are costly but reliable as early as 4 weeks whereas antibody based tests are reliable only after 12 weeks. Tests for STDs are reliable after 4 weeks following the exposure. Consult a physician and carry on the tests under his guidance.
Dr S Murugan

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj