Can you get HIV from kissing is one of the most frequently asked questions by the people. So, is this true? Can you really get HIV from kissing? There are a lot of misconceptions about how HIV is actually transmitted. One of these misconceptions includes getting HIV from kissing. Let’s dive into detail about what actually is HIV and how it can be transmitted.
What Is HIV?
HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a kind of virus that enters the body and attacks the immune system of human beings. This virus can be transmitted from one person to another. But, your daily routine activities cannot result in the transmitting of this deadly virus in your body.
There are specific body fluids that result in the transmission of HIV from one person to another. These body fluids include semen, blood, anal fluid, vaginal fluid, and breast milk. What’s important to note here is that HIV cannot be transmitted through urine, feces, skin, sweat, or saliva.
How Is HIV Transmitted?
One of the most common ways through which HIV can spread to another human being is through intercourse. When you have unprotected intercourse with someone suffering from this deadly virus, the risk of transmission of HIV can increase. Any type of intercourse that is not protected increases the risks of the transmission of this deadly virus. Apart from having unprotected intercourse, HIV can also be transmitted from one human being to another is by sharing needles, and using the blood containing HIV. Pregnant women suffering from HIV can also transmit this virus to their unborn babies. When HIV infected mothers breastfeed their babies with milk, this can also lead to the transmission of the disease.
Can A Person Transmit HIV Through Kissing?
As established above, HIV cannot be transmitted through saliva. Therefore, it cannot be transmitted through kissing as there is no HIV present in saliva. Even though the mouth contains a mucous membrane through which HIV can be transmitted, but there are no cells present in the mouth that are vulnerable to HIV. Therefore, kissing a person who is suffering from HIV will not make the disease transmit to you.
According to the report published by the Centers for Disease Control, HIV cannot be transmitted to another person through closed-mouth kissing or the exchange of saliva as well. But, there has been one extreme case in which HIV was actually transmitted to another person through kissing. The findings of the report concluded that although deep or open-mouth kissing possesses a very low risk of the spread of HIV, there has been one documented case where a person actually became infected with HIV through kissing.
So, it clears the misconception that you can get HIV from kissing. Getting HIV from just a kiss is only a myth that needs not to be believed. HIV is only transmitted to one person from another through some specific body fluids such as blood or semen and saliva is not one of them.