Question

Can I get HIV from deep kissing?

16 December 2010. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.

Hi,

Is it possible to catch HIV from deep kissing (biting lips, gum desease)? I ask this question because there is contradictory information on internet. The CDC site states that there has been one case in 1997 where a woman got infected from her husband through deep kissing. Other sites like MEDHELP or FORUMS.POZ.COM say there is NO risk from deep kissing regardles of any biting or blood.

I am worried and l dont know if I should test after an exposure like this? Thanks.

Answer

Answer: Charlotte Walker

Thank you for your question.

I contacted CDC about why they put this information on their website and they responded by stating:

We do not have data on the proportion of people who have been infected through French kissing alone, but we stress that this is likely to be none. The risk is theoretical and remote.

If your only exposure was deep kissing then you do not need to test for HIV. You cannot get HIV this way.

65 comments

Rocky • 13 November 2016

Thank you for your response,
But after that incident i had got rashes on my body under armpit shouldes and stomach.

No fever no other symptoms.

Please suggest should i go for 4th gen anitbody test after 30 days
Lisa Thorley • 13 November 2016

Hi Alex,

You can’t contract HIV through kissing. Please see question one here :

http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Alex Aguero • 13 November 2016

How effective it is if one engage him or herself in a deep kiss with a person he is not sure of Hiv?
Lisa Thorley • 3 November 2016

Hi Rocky.

You cannot be infected with HIV by kissing. Please see the following on transmission:

http://i-base.info/guides/testing
Rocky • 3 November 2016

Hello,

I had protected sex but while having sex I kissed my partner deeply.
I am not aware of my partners medical health and I had dry lips which were not beldding but had burning sensation.
So are there any chances of getting infected by HIV
Simon Collins • 24 October 2016

Hi Nsabimana, kissing is not a risk for HIV. You will not catch HIV from kissing. How is your girlfriend doing? If she is taking HIV treatment, this makes HIV difficult to catch. If she is not yet on treatment, then using a condoms will also keep you negative.
Nsabimana • 24 October 2016

Thanks for your good informations about Hiv aids iwould like to ask you haw can i protect my life to the hiv infection becouse i like to much deep kissing but my girl freind have Hiv infection tanks
Simon Collins • 23 October 2016

Thanks Frank, this is one of several reasons why saliva is not infectious.
frank • 23 October 2016

saliva has certain proteins which make it ineffective to transmit hiv
Simon Collins • 26 September 2016

Hi Simson, information about using condoms is here:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing/sexual-activity-and-condom-use
So long as you use condoms in the right way, they are 100% effective. Lower rates of effectiveness is sometimes reported because this includes time when people forget to use them, or if they don’t check they are always in place.