Question
Is there a risk of transmitting HIV, chlamydia or herpes by casual contact?
21 August 2007. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.
Hi, I am very concerned about me and my 2 year old son.
We are both living with my sister who is having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive man. So far she has been recently pregnant with this mans baby and had and abortion.
I’m mostly concerned about her coming home after 2 days and kissing my son because she never brushes her teeth and I know she has clamidia and herpes simplex.
Answer
Your post includes several questions.
Firstly, your sister is at risk of catching HIV is she continues to have unprotected sex with her HIV-positive partner.
It is also possible that she may already have caught HIV, as other sexually transmitted infections like herpes increase this risk. It is important that she speaks to a doctor about her own health, if she has not already done this.
HIV and chlamydia are sexually transmitted infections, and are not spread by casual contact, so your baby is not at risk.
Herpes is also generally a sexually transmitted infection, but can sometimes be passed by casual contact. For example if your sister has a cold sore which she touches and then touches the baby. Brushing her teeth will make no difference but washing her hands will stop this risk.
Information on transmission and prevention are included on these links, but there is plenty of other information about this on the internet.
Try these first:
Information on chlamydia from NHS website