Is AIDS transmitted through a kiss: myths and reality. Dangerous kiss? Is HIV transmitted through a kiss? HIV is transmitted through a kiss

It is not for nothing that the human immunodeficiency virus has such a name, because it is a purely human pathology that is not dangerous for other mammals. There are, however, a couple of variations of this virus, which, according to special studies, affect African monkeys (HIV-2) and possibly chimpanzees (HIV-1), but they have nothing to do with humans, being transmitted only within the species. For the human race, the danger is precisely HIV infection, which opens the way into the body for many dangerous viruses and bacteria. Therefore, you should not treat her carelessly. But you can protect yourself from this terrible disease only by knowing how HIV infection is transmitted from person to person.

A little about HIV itself

Humanity learned about the immunodeficiency virus at the end of the twentieth century (1983), when at the same time this virus was discovered in two scientific laboratories. One of them was located in France (Louis Pasteur Institute), the other in the USA (National Cancer Institute). A year earlier, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which, as it turned out later, was the final phase of HIV infection, received its current name.

When a new unknown retrovirus was isolated and given the name HTLV-III, it was also suggested that this virus could be the cause of such a terrible disease as AIDS. Further research confirmed this hypothesis, and humanity learned about a new danger that can kill without weapons.

How is HIV infection transmitted?

The human immunodeficiency virus is a terrible and insidious disease, for which there is currently no effective treatment. But there are a lot of different rumors around HIV. Some say that the virus itself is not so terrible if you can live with it quietly for more than 10 years. The real danger, in their opinion, is only the last stage of the disease - AIDS, when various pathologies develop in the body, most of them having a complicated course.

Others are terrified of contracting HIV infection, believing that any contact with an infected person carries great danger. This leads to neurotic disorders and depression, because an infected person himself may not even suspect that he is a carrier, not to mention other people who do not notice any changes in the virus carrier. The presence of the virus in the body can only be determined diagnostically by conducting a special blood test for antibodies to HIV.

In principle, there is some truth in both opinions. But both a careless attitude towards the problem of HIV and excessive concern for one's health at the expense of human relationships and mental health are extremes that will not benefit either one or the other.

HIV has 3 main routes of transmission, which are worth paying close attention to, because it is in these cases that the risk of infection is especially high:

• During sexual intercourse (sexual or contact route of transmission),
• When manipulating blood (parenteral route),
• During pregnancy, labor and breastfeeding (vertical transmission of infection).

In other cases, the possibility of getting HIV is so small that even doctors do not consider these routes as dangerous.

Having learned how HIV infection is transmitted, you can take all measures to block any routes for infection to enter the body. One should not think that only those people who, due to their professional duties, are forced to come into contact with infected people or who are related to virus carriers in some way are at risk. You can become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus even if you have a virus-negative partner.

On the other hand, some couples, in which one of the partners is a virus carrier, live quite happily because they are careful in sexual contacts. Thus, consideration for others and caution are important conditions that help stop the spread of a terrible disease.

How is HIV infection transmitted from a man?

So, the greatest chance of introducing HIV infection into your body is observed during sexual intercourse. This applies to both heterosexual and homosexual couples. A man always acts as the introducing party in sex. And often it is men who are the “customers” of love affairs. Therefore, the risk of infection from a man is higher than from a woman.

This is also facilitated by the fact that the content of virus cells in sperm is almost 3 times higher than in the vaginal secretions of women. Even a minimal amount of sperm on the penis can introduce an infection into the female body, but removing it from there is very difficult due to the structural features of the female genital organs, which are located deep inside. Conventional douching after sexual intercourse does not guarantee the removal of the virus from the body.

Please note that sex with an HIV-positive partner does not necessarily result in infection. In order for the virus to become active, it must enter the bloodstream. It can enter the bloodstream only through damage to the skin and mucous membranes. Usually, during sexual intercourse, microcracks form on the vaginal mucosa, which do not pose a danger to the woman until some infection, for example, the human immunodeficiency virus, gets into her bowels. If there are no microdamages, and the woman has thoroughly cleaned the vagina after intercourse, infection may not occur.

The danger for women is posed by infectious and inflammatory processes in the vagina, which make the mucous membrane more vulnerable and permeable to all kinds of bacteria and viruses. The likelihood of violating the integrity of the mucous membrane during sexual intercourse is high with inflammation of the internal genital organs and sexually transmitted diseases. In the latter case, partners can simply exchange “sores,” which will only worsen the situation for both.

But so far we have been talking about classic sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. However, in our time, a certain perverted form of it is very actively practiced - anal sex, when the penis is inserted not into the vagina, but into the rectum through the anus. Some consider this method as an opportunity to protect against unwanted pregnancy without the use of contraceptives.

It must be said that such intercourse is not only unnatural, but also poses a great danger in terms of the spread of HIV infection. And all because the delicate tissue of the rectum and anus is susceptible to damage even more than the inner lining of the vagina, which is protected by the mucous secretion produced in it, which softens friction.

The rectum in nature is intended for other purposes. It does not belong to the reproductive organs and does not produce a special lubricant that protects the walls from friction and damage. Therefore, during anal sex, there is a high probability of damage to the tissues of the anus and intestines due to strong friction, especially if intercourse is performed in a rough manner.

At the same time, the man, again, suffers less, because if there is no damage to the penis, then he is unlikely to be able to become infected from an HIV-positive partner. Moreover, penile hygiene is much easier than cleansing a woman’s internal reproductive organs. But if a woman had anal sex with an HIV-positive man, then her probability of infection is almost 100%.

Knowing how HIV infection is transmitted is also very important for homosexual couples, and we have many of them, because persecution of people with non-traditional orientation has long been a thing of the past. For homosexual couples, the main source of sexual satisfaction is anal sex, during which the risk of infection is incredibly high.

Oral sex with an HIV-positive man (the penis is inserted into the mouth of a partner or homosexual partner) can also pose some danger to partners. The fact is that various microdamages can also occur in the oral cavity, provoked by rough or spicy foods, inflammatory processes in tissues, etc. If infected sperm gets on the wounds, it risks transmitting the virus into the bloodstream, from where it can no longer be removed.

And even if there were no wounds on the mucous membranes of the mouth, they may end up in the esophagus and stomach. In such cases, the danger comes from swallowing sperm, which many women do not disdain, having read information about the beneficial composition of seminal fluid and its effect on youth and beauty.

As you can see, sexual transmission of HIV is quite common. It is not without reason that almost 70% of infections are attributed to this factor. Another interesting fact is that despite the fact that a woman is at greater risk during sexual intercourse, the prevalence of the virus among men and women is approximately the same. And the reason for this is promiscuity with a large number of partners, an increase in the number of homosexual couples, and the practice of group sex.

There is something to think about. But preventing HIV from entering the body during sexual intercourse is not so difficult if you use high-quality condoms every time, if you know that your partner is a carrier of the virus. And even if there is no information about the health status of your sex partner, you should not exclude the possibility of carrying the virus. But you should protect yourself from possible infection by insisting on protected sex using a condom.

You can only practice unprotected sex with a regular partner in whom you are 100% confident. But even here, one should not discount the possibility of infecting a partner in other ways (for example, through blood during surgery, if surgical instruments were not sufficiently disinfected, or after visiting a dentist). It would be a good idea to take an HIV test after each such intervention, but practice shows that this recommendation is implemented very, very rarely.

How is HIV infection transmitted from a woman?

Although the likelihood of contracting HIV from a representative of the fairer sex is less, it should not be ruled out either. After all, inflammatory pathologies of the genital organs, weakening their tissues, occur not only in women, but also in men. Therefore, after sex with an HIV-positive partner, a man with inflammation or mechanical trauma to the penis, leading to damage to its tissues, can also discover HIV in himself over time.

Therefore, we can say with confidence that sex with a condom protects not only the woman, but also the man from infection. And if we also take into account that men are polygamous by nature, i.e. cannot remain faithful to one partner for a long time, then by having sex without a condom, they endanger not only themselves, but also their regular partner. After all, for the woman they love, they themselves become the source of infection, even if for the time being without suspecting it.

This carelessness is especially dangerous for young couples who are still planning to have children. After all, an unsuspecting woman (don’t forget that the disease can manifest itself even after 10 or more years), seeking advice about pregnancy, may be horrified to learn that she is a carrier of the virus. Therefore, couples planning to replenish their family must be aware of how HIV infection is transmitted from man to woman and from woman to child.

You should always remember that either the same man or a woman can become infected from a man, but from a woman the virus can also be transmitted to her child, who is in the womb for a certain time. The virus can enter the fetal bloodstream during pregnancy (through the placental barrier) or during the baby’s passage through the birth canal, because babies have such delicate skin that any impact can cause microdamage on it, invisible to the eye, but sufficient for the penetration of virus cells, which are also microscopic in size. And if we take into account that the immune system of a newborn is still in the formative stage, then some babies die in the very first days and months after birth.

Even if the baby is born healthy, there is still a risk of HIV transmission from the mother through breast milk. For this reason, women who carry the virus have to give up breastfeeding their baby, which, of course, does not have the best effect on his natural immunity, but at the same time protects the newborn from an unwanted “gift” from a loving mother in the form of a terrible retrovirus.

Yes, let’s not hide it, previously the percentage of HIV-infected children born from mothers with the human immunodeficiency virus in their blood was much higher (about 40%). Today, doctors have learned to use chemical antiviral drugs (usually prescribed starting from the 28th week of pregnancy) to reduce the activity of HIV in the mother’s body and have reduced the intrauterine incidence to 1-2%.

This is facilitated by the practice of cesarean section in HIV-infected mothers, which prevents infection of the baby during childbirth, as well as the administration of antiviral drugs to newborns for several months after birth. After all, the sooner an infection is detected in the baby’s body, the easier it will be to fight it and the greater the chance that the child will live a long, happy life. If preventive measures are not taken, the child can be predicted to live for a maximum of 15 years.

Preparing for the arrival of a new little family member is always a very exciting moment for a woman, but it is a pleasant excitement. For an HIV-infected pregnant woman, the joy of motherhood is overshadowed by concern about the fate of her baby, who may acquire a terrible disease from birth. And this anxiety will not leave the woman for the entire 9 months, even if she diligently follows all the doctor’s instructions and undergoes routine examinations.

An even greater responsibility lies with women who knew about their illness even before conceiving the baby. They should think and weigh everything several times before deciding to give life to a child. After all, along with life, they can reward the baby with a dangerous illness, predicting (albeit not always) a sad fate. The expectant mother must discuss all the risks associated with HIV infection with her doctor and, if the decision is positive, strictly adhere to all medical recommendations.

It is worth thinking in advance about who will help the infected mother care for and raise the child. Still, constant contact with a child who does not yet know how to protect himself from danger poses, albeit a small, risk of infecting the baby. And the life of an HIV-positive mother may not be as long as she would like. Even before the birth of the child, everything must be done so that later he will not be left alone in this life.

As for men, representatives of the oldest profession also pose a great danger to them. You need to understand that a woman of easy virtue can have quite a lot of clients, no one requires certificates of health, which means that among the sexual partners of the prostitute there may well be HIV-infected men. A prostitute can give such a gift in the form of HIV infection to any subsequent client with whom she will have vaginal or anal sex.

Men should not take risks by having sexual contact with a woman during menstruation. Firstly, this is not an urgent need, secondly, it is unhygienic and, thirdly, it is quite dangerous in terms of blood contact with the penis if there is a possibility that the woman is a carrier of HIV infection. Still, the blood is saturated with virus cells much more than vaginal secretions, which means that the likelihood of infection increases markedly. Is the game worth the candle?

How is HIV infection transmitted through kissing?

This question is of particular interest to young couples, who today practice not only light superficial kisses, but also deep sensual ones. And we have already written that some of the virus cells are found in many human physiological fluids, including saliva contained in the oral cavity. It is this moment that worries lovers, because a kiss is the most sincere expression of love for a person.

Lovers should not be especially worried, even if one of the partners turns out to be HIV-positive. Such a manifestation of love as a kiss is quite acceptable in this situation. Saliva contains such a tiny number of viral cells that the answer to the incorrect question of how HIV infection is transmitted through saliva is “virtually not at all.”

Theoretically, the possibility of infection in this way remains due to the very minuscule amount of HIV cells in saliva, but in life there have never been confirmed cases of infection through saliva. You need to understand that this is not just a way to reassure lovers, but statistical information. There are special centers that study the virus and how it spreads. Medical scientists are concerned about the ever-increasing number of patients with HIV, so for each specific case, complete information is collected about where and how the infection occurred. All this is necessary in order to develop effective preventive measures that will help stop the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus across our home planet.

During such studies in the United States, a case of HIV transmission during a kiss was recorded. But the carrier of the infection, as it turned out, was not saliva, but blood that appeared at the site of the bite (apparently it was made in a fit of passion).

A simple loving kiss without damaging the tissues of the oral cavity cannot harm a healthy person, so lovers can safely practice such kisses. It’s another matter if bleeding wounds are found in the mouths of both partners, which is observed with periodontitis, stomatitis, tonsillitis and some other pathologies of the oral cavity. Any open wound in an HIV-infected person is a source of infection, while the same injuries in a healthy person carry a risk of infection.

Parenteral route of transmission of HIV infection

If the vertical route of transmission of the virus is typical only for women who decide to give birth to a child, then both women and men can be equally infected through contact and parenteral routes. We have already considered all the nuances of the contact route of infection. It's time to pay attention to HIV transmission through blood.

There are 2 risk factors here, mainly associated with medical instruments. Firstly, these are surgical supplies, which must be strictly sterile. Insufficient disinfection of an instrument that was previously used in manipulations with an HIV-infected patient is a risk factor for infecting another patient.

Moreover, this applies not only to surgery, but also to dental offices, beauty salons, manicure and pedicure practitioners, where clients are not asked for a certificate at all about the absence of HIV in the body. In the event of an accidental cut, particles of the blood of an infected person remain on a scalpel or other device used in surgery, dentistry, or cosmetology. If the instrument is not properly treated (washed with water and that’s enough, but you need to treat it with alcohol or boil for at least 1-2 minutes), the virus cells remaining on it can easily enter the body of a healthy person through various lesions on the skin.

Although the probability of infection in this case is small, it also cannot be discounted. To protect yourself from parenteral infection during medical or cosmetic procedures, you must insist on using disposable instruments that are removed from the package in front of the patient. Fortunately, now disposable tools are not a problem. At least in private medical centers that value their reputation and income.

Another unlikely way to infect a patient with the human immunodeficiency virus is to give him the blood of an HIV-infected person. This can only happen in an emergency situation, when there are no blood supplies, and seconds count. In this case, blood can be taken from an untested person only on the basis of group and Rh factor compatibility, while the donor himself may not be aware of his illness, which is usually in no hurry to manifest itself. Blood at donor points must be tested for HIV, so the likelihood of infection from tested donor blood is practically zero.

When manipulating HIV-infected patients, some medical staff also run the risk of infection. This risk is small and is mainly caused by the carelessness of a doctor or nurse who, during surgery or other actions with the patient’s blood, accidentally damages the tissue on the arm in the place where it comes into contact with the blood of an HIV-positive patient. Infection may not occur, but the danger still exists, and we must not forget about it.

There is another answer to the question of how HIV infection is transmitted parenterally. A risk factor for blood infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is the use of injection equipment by a group of people. In practice, this phenomenon is often common among drug addicts who are trying to save money on syringes.

In this case, not only syringe needles, which are in direct contact with human tissues and blood, are considered potentially dangerous in this case, but also the syringes themselves, as well as the containers from which the liquid drug is taken. Among drug addicts, these instruments are not processed in any way, which means that particles of the blood of the previous user, who may have an HIV-positive status, remain on them. Drugs are introduced into the body intravenously, and the virus is delivered directly into the bloodstream, where it begins its destructive effect.

Drug addiction is a disease, and recovery from pathological addiction is not so easy. But everything can be done to prevent HIV infection from joining the destructive effects of drugs.

Prevention in this case is the use of individual (preferably disposable) syringes and ampoules, as well as the avoidance of promiscuity, which is often practiced among drug addicts against the background of the narcotic ecstasy they receive, clouding the mind and logical thinking. But even in such a state, a person is able to realize the danger of his actions, unless, of course, drugs have completely destroyed his ability to think. In this case, kissing should be canceled for a while, and resumed only after the damage to the mucous membranes of the mouth, gums and lips has completely healed.

The likelihood of contracting HIV through a kiss is negligible, but you should not completely ignore the fact of this possibility. If a kiss is a manifestation of true love, then the partners will take every precaution so as not to harm each other. Indeed, in this case, infection with the human immunodeficiency virus is a tragedy for both.

But it’s clearly not worth kissing passionately with untested partners. And it's not even about the depth of the kiss. It’s worth thinking about whether a stranger will care about your safety in a fit of passion, or are you at risk of being bitten or unprotected sex, which may well follow kissing? Are you completely sure that your casual partner is HIV negative?

Only with a trusted partner can you feel safe while observing preventive measures, such as using a condom and being careful when kissing. There is no need to rush to reject your loved one if he is diagnosed with HIV, because the human immunodeficiency virus is not an acute respiratory viral infection or a fungus; it is not transmitted by airborne droplets, through hands, dishes, the bathroom, or the toilet. So if you are careful, the likelihood of becoming infected is not that great, as proven by many happy couples in which one of the partners is a virus carrier.

How is HIV infection transmitted at home?

If the topic of kisses was of interest mainly to couples in love and loving parents, who also happily give kisses to their children, then the issue of the risk of contracting HIV infection in everyday life is already of concern to many readers of different ages. After all, if it turns out that HIV can be contracted not through sexual contact, surgery or during a blood transfusion, but through everyday means, almost all people may be at risk.

Let us not deceive the reader by claiming that contracting HIV infection at home is impossible, just to prevent panic. Let's face it, the danger of infection exists and is real. However, this is not a reason to panic in advance. In order for infection to occur, certain conditions are required that can be successfully prevented; it is only important to know how HIV infection is transmitted in everyday life and to avoid such situations.

Most often, men become infected in domestic conditions, which once again equalizes their chances of receiving an unwanted “gift” with women. The cause of infection in the vast majority of cases is ordinary shaving, which is considered a common procedure among men.

You can shave twice a day or once a week, but this will not change the likelihood of contracting HIV. Even the type of shaving device in this case does not play a significant role, since if you shave carelessly, you can get hurt with a safety or electric razor. Another important thing is whose machine or razor do you shave with?

A razor, like a toothbrush, should be individual. By giving a razor to others or using someone else’s, you can only bring yourself into trouble in the form of blood poisoning with HIV infection. And here it doesn’t matter how many times you had to use it. If you cut yourself with a razor that contains the blood of an HIV-infected person (a friend or relative, and we know that he himself may not have known about the disease), there is every chance of releasing the virus into his blood. And these chances are quite high.

When asked whether there have been any documented cases of HIV infection while shaving, the answer is yes. True, information about the route of infection in all episodes was obtained from the patient himself and was based on his assumptions. Perhaps there were other contacts that could have caused infection, or maybe the culprit of the disaster really was a publicly available razor. Be that as it may, we should not exclude the completely logical possibility of HIV infection at home. But this possibility can be prevented if you use an individual shaving device, protecting it from the encroachments of friends and family members (among which, by the way, there may be women who are not free from excess hair).

Above we mentioned a toothbrush. And for good reason, because if an HIV-positive person has problems with teeth, gums or oral mucosa, particles of infected blood may likely be hidden on the brush after brushing, which will become a source of infection for another user of the brush.

True, in order for infection to occur through a razor or toothbrush, the blood must be fresh enough, because the human immunodeficiency virus is a very unstable substance that cannot exist outside the host’s body, so it quickly dies in the open air.

Theoretically, the human immunodeficiency virus can be transmitted by shaking hands. This would be a virtually incredible situation, since infection is possible only if there are fresh injuries on the hands (or rather even the palms) of both partners extended for a handshake. Plus, the blood of an HIV-infected person must get into the wound of a healthy person. Yes, the situation is more than rare, because who would extend a bloody hand during a greeting, but it is still worth knowing about this possibility.

There is even less chance of contracting AIDS in the swimming pool, where people are allowed in only after providing a certificate confirming the absence of various types of infections in the visitor’s body. True, an HIV test is not taken in all cases. But this has little effect on the likelihood of infection. To become infected in a pool, you must either step on an open wound in the blood of an infected person, or end up with the same wound in water noticeably flavored with someone else’s blood, or provoke a bloody fight. What do you think is the likelihood of such an event happening?

Public baths and saunas practically eliminate the possibility of contracting HIV infection, although no one requires a certificate there. But, firstly, the virus cannot live on its own without a host, and secondly, it is afraid of exposure to high temperatures.

As for massage parlors, the likelihood of contracting HIV is much higher during a manicure or pedicure, which can be done in beauty salons or at home by both women and men. And poorly disinfected devices will be to blame. Trust your nails only to trusted and careful cosmetologists, and you will not have problems with HIV.

During massage, infection can again occur only during mixing of blood, i.e. It is necessary that both the massage therapist’s hands and the client’s skin, which the massage therapist touches, be damaged. It is clear that such a situation can be considered rather an exception to the rule.

It's time to talk about more mundane things, like the toilet. Can you become infected with the human immunodeficiency virus by using the toilet?

Neither urine nor feces are considered to be a serious source of HIV infection that can trigger the disease. In a public toilet, you are more likely to catch other infections, including those that are sexually transmitted, than the immunodeficiency virus, which is transmitted primarily through blood or semen.

Yes, such secretions may accidentally end up on the rim of the toilet, but in order for them to cause infection, the buttocks of the person who sits on them must have damage, through which the virus would penetrate into the blood. This situation is simply ridiculous, because no smart person would sit on the toilet in a public place (and even with such obvious traces of someone else’s presence) without first laying down at least toilet paper, or better yet, a disposable seat specifically designed for this purpose.

If we are not talking about a toilet, but about a bowl or hole for drainage, which can often be found in public restrooms, then they do not pose any risk of infection at all, since they exclude contact of bodily fluids.

The fact that HIV is not transmitted in a public toilet does not mean that you do not need to follow the rules of personal hygiene. Clean hands and caution will help to avoid infection with other, no less dangerous infections, which are quite sufficient in public places with the abbreviation MF.

As for cutlery and dishes, there is no need to worry too much, even when visiting canteens and cafes. HIV is definitely not transmitted through dishes, unlike many intestinal infections.

Based on the above and information about how HIV infection is transmitted, we can conclude that it is virtually impossible to acquire the human immunodeficiency virus through everyday use. You have to be an extremely sloppy, unscrupulous or clumsy person to be included in the list of exceptions, which can only be called a curious accident. But caution and understanding will serve many people well, including those who have found happiness in an HIV-positive partner.

The danger of HIV infection lies in the fact that after infection it is contained in human fluids (sperm, vaginal discharge, blood). Therefore, many people who are worried about their health are concerned about the possibility of infection through saliva. When diagnosing a virus, a specialist must find out the source of infection, since it is necessary to understand further preventive measures.

To begin with, we should distinguish between the concepts of HIV infection and AIDS. In theory, there is an assumption that a viral infection can directly be transmitted from a carrier to a healthy person. However, no such cases have been recorded in medicine. If we talk about AIDS, then it cannot be contracted either during a kiss or under other circumstances, since this is the last stage of HIV. To the extent that average people are unaware, the fear of a possible fatal infection is growing.

There are cases when in a couple one of the partners is a carrier of HIV, and the second is a completely healthy person. By using barrier contraception in the form of condoms, you can prevent infection of another person. It is also important to monitor for injuries that are associated with blood. If you follow fairly simple safety measures, the carrier of the virus is completely safe for a healthy person. If the virus was transmitted through saliva, then it is likely that only a few would remain healthy.

Arguments confirming that HIV cannot be acquired through a kiss:

1. The virus must be in sufficient concentration to infect another person; on the contrary, there is not enough of it in saliva. To activate the pathological process, a lot of altered biological material is required, while saliva contains a minimum of HIV cells. That is why infection in this way is considered impossible. However, the theory does not exclude transmission of infection through saliva.
2. For normal division of viral cells, an appropriate environment is required, which can be vaginal secretions, blood, sperm, or mother's milk. It is in such human fluids that the danger of the virus lurks. A kiss in this case remains safe and does not transmit infection if there has been no contact with the above liquids.
3. World statistics confirm that to date there has not been a single case of HIV infection being contracted directly through a kiss. Therefore, kissing is considered potentially harmless.
4. Kissing the body also remains a completely safe phenomenon, since the virus cannot exist in an already dried secret. The pathological flora dies after a few minutes.

Note! Insufficient knowledge about the immunodeficiency virus and the routes of its transmission allow the idea of ​​possible infection through a kiss, but scientists have proven the opposite fact. Therefore, fear of an unreasonable route of infection only increases nervous tension. It has been established that with a sufficiently strong immune system, when the virus enters the body with saliva, its cells die and the danger of infection disappears.

When can you become infected through a kiss?

In any case, there may be exceptions, so it cannot be reliably stated that one cannot become infected through a kiss. Do not forget that if a kiss occurred, and both partners had wounds in their mouths that were bleeding, then there is a high probability of the virus entering the bloodstream. However, a sane person will not allow a kiss when there are obvious problems in the oral cavity. In addition, medicine has not recorded cases in which HIV was acquired through airborne droplets or a kiss.

The second point allows infection if a person’s immune system functions are reduced to a minimum due to an autoimmune disease. When the body is weakened, even the entry of a minimal amount of viral cells can activate a fatal disease. But there is a counter fact here - people with practically no immunity could not survive for long, so death would occur earlier than the likelihood of becoming infected with HIV.

It is important! Despite controversial arguments, the issue of the likelihood of infection through saliva has been resolved, and kissing poses virtually no danger. Therefore, if there is no direct contact with the blood, semen, or vaginal secretions of the virus carrier, then it remains safe for others.

How can you become infected with HIV?

Routes of infection	Short description
Sex without using a condom	It has been determined that this method of infection remains the most common in the world. At the same time, you need to pay attention that the risk of infection during anal sex is very high. This is explained by possible damage to the rectum. Oral sex also does not exclude the possibility of acquiring HIV infection, but in this case, infection will occur if the sperm of a virus carrier enters the oral cavity, where there are bleeding wounds
Injections	In second place remains the injection route, when the virus is transmitted to a healthy person through poorly sterilized medical instruments or needles (using one needle is very often practiced among drug addicts)
From mother to child	A viral infection can be transmitted to a child during pregnancy, during feeding, or when the baby passes through the birth canal. But, if preventive measures are taken in a timely manner, the risk of infection of the child will be reduced to a minimum (carrying out a cesarean section, artificial feeding)
Consequences of the profession	When a healthcare worker, having abrasions or other injuries, carelessly handles infected blood
Organ transplantation	In case of internal organ transplant or blood transfusion from a carrier

Attention! If you use condoms with untested partners and carefully carry out all manipulations that may involve blood, then you don’t have to worry about acquiring HIV infection.

You can learn how to avoid getting infected with HIV from a specialist by watching the video.

Video - How to avoid getting infected with HIV

When is HIV not transmitted?

There are supposed ways of infection with a pathologically dangerous virus, but they have not been confirmed by science, so infection is excluded:

1. By everyday means. When using shared things (towels, shared bed linen, dishes), infection is impossible.
2. By airborne droplets. The virus is not able to survive in the air, so this method also has no right to exist.
3. Handshake. The human skin is designed in such a way that viruses are not able to penetrate through into the body, provided that it is intact. However, a risk is acceptable if both people (healthy and carrier) have bleeding wounds on their hands. But in this case, a handshake is excluded.
4. Insect bites. When a blood-sucking insect bites both a healthy person and a virus carrier, infection does not occur, since the insect absorbs the infected blood, but does not release it when biting another individual. The possibility of infection through contact with animals is also excluded, since the virus is not able to multiply in their bodies.
5. When visiting the swimming pools. The immunodeficiency virus is not able to survive in water, therefore, if there was a carrier of the virus there before visiting a healthy person, then nothing will happen.
6. Through needle injections in transport. Not long ago, the public was alarmed by the phenomenon of AIDS terrorism, when healthy people were stabbed with a contaminated needle in public places. However, medicine has not confirmed a single case of infection in this way.

To prevent HIV infection, parents should teach their children from an early age about the rules of sexual activity and protection. Do not neglect using a condom with an untested partner. It is best not to kiss an infected person unless you are sure that the oral cavity is completely healthy (without fistulas, bleeding wounds, damage from a toothbrush, etc.). If a kiss occurs, it is recommended to visit a doctor and do the necessary tests. In general, every sexually active person needs to be tested for HIV every six months. Thus, if a destructive virus is identified, the quality of the virus can be preserved by taking special therapy, and the premature development of AIDS can be prevented.

The spread of the human immunodeficiency virus is one of the most serious problems of our time. The fear of contracting an infection, which deprives the body of its natural defenses, can make a person hostage to excessive caution. Can you get infected with HIV through saliva? This question deprives many people of their peace of mind. Should I worry?

Everyone knows that HIV infection is very dangerous and that it is impossible to destroy it once it enters the human body. The fear of becoming infected with such a virus has given rise to many myths in society that form a false idea about the routes of its transmission. These inventions cannot be called harmless, because they deprive people of peace and cause a lot of trouble for those who are carriers of such a virus or are already struggling with its influence.

Is saliva a “travel bridge” for HIV?

Immunodeficiency virus cells are found in all biological fluids of an infected person. But their quantity in different liquids differs significantly. There are much fewer of them in saliva than in blood or secretions from the genitals. This means that the risk of contracting HIV through saliva theoretically exists, but is it as high as ignorant acquaintances sometimes try to convince us? Let's analyze situations when contact with the product of the salivary glands of another person is possible, and the level of danger of infection in this case.

Don't forget that in order to become infected with HIV, the cells of the virus must enter a person's bloodstream. In the external environment, this pathogen lives no more than half an hour, and after 10 minutes it is no longer active.

• Kiss

You need to know for sure whether you can become infected with HIV through a kiss, so as not to deprive your loved ones of such a manifestation of love and warmth. During a kiss with an infected person, saliva with virus cells will inevitably fall on the mucous membrane - therefore, infection will occur? Actually this is not true. Insidious HIV particles penetrate the body only if there are wounds, abrasions, cuts or bleeding sores in the oral cavity.

But even this risk cannot be called serious. After all, according to scientists, to become infected with the AIDS virus, you need at least 2 liters of infected saliva, since the concentration of the virus in this liquid is very small.

So, it is obvious that without contact of a sufficient number of HIV cells with blood, infection will not occur. But it happens that during a kiss, not only saliva, but also blood gets into the damaged area of ​​the oral mucosa of a healthy person - for example, if the gums bleed. Is it possible to become infected with HIV through a kiss in this case? This is possible if at least 5 ml of blood from a sick person (1 tsp) gets onto the bleeding area of ​​the oral cavity.

• Oral sex

Proponents of diversity in bed are interested in whether it is possible to become infected with HIV through oral sex. Such a danger really exists, but there is no talk of a large number of people infected through this route. Why? The answer is simple: if there is no damage to the mucous membrane of the mouth or genitals, the AIDS virus contained in saliva cannot enter the bloodstream. But HIV most likely attacks the body if, during this type of sexual contact, semen or discharge from the genital tract gets onto the mucous membranes of the mouth, and also when there are traces of penetrating injuries, even very small ones, in the mouth or genitals.

• Crockery and cutlery

If an HIV carrier is a relative or colleague, it may well happen that you take a cup or spoon that he used without making sure that the dishes are well washed. In addition, when visiting public catering establishments, no one can be one hundred percent sure that the cutlery has been properly processed and that there are no traces of saliva from a person infected with HIV on it. What will happen to the visitor who receives such dishes?

He can become infected with many diseases, but not the immunodeficiency virus. Even if there is a little saliva with dangerous microorganisms left on the devices, this amount is not enough for infection. Of course, there is an admixture of blood in the salivary fluid. But it is unlikely that anyone will not notice droplets of blood on a spoon or plate, and they will fall into an open wound. Blood that has been in the external environment for several minutes does not pose a danger, so you should not be afraid of specks of coagulated biological fluid.

• Various items

There may be saliva on the surface of towels, sheets, pillows, clothing and other items, especially if they have been used by a child. This does not mean at all that you need to be pathologically afraid of touching such things. Even if a pillow or toy is thoroughly wet from infected saliva (of course, such an assumption only causes a smile), there is no longer an active virus on it, because it quickly dies outside the human body.

• Visiting swimming pools, saunas, dental office

Are water treatments with an HIV-infected person taboo? No, because the virus cells die in water. “But what if individual particles of the virus turn out to be especially tenacious?” - especially suspicious lovers of swimming or bathing may wonder. These particles will still cease to exist on human skin, and if they get into a wound they will not be able to cause infection, since their number is minimal.

More worrying is a visit to the dentist. Indeed, if the saliva of a sick person interspersed with blood gets into the oral cavity, which is damaged due to the doctor’s manipulations, infection cannot be avoided. But if you follow the dental hygiene rules, nothing like this will happen.

Dangerous kiss? Is HIV transmitted through a kiss?

Science has long established that HIV spreads through human body fluids.

This fact makes many couples in love worry, one of the partners in which is HIV-positive. Unfortunately, many people do not know that HIV is transmitted only through certain biological fluids - blood, intimate secretions, sperm and mother's milk. Can HIV be transmitted by kissing through saliva? In theory, this is possible - only for this you need to drink more than 4 liters of saliva.

If your significant other is HIV positive, should you give up kissing? How likely is it to become infected with HIV? To answer these questions, let's look at the statistics. They try to register every case of HIV and identify the cause of infection. This is done in order to take measures and prevent other people from becoming infected in the same way. According to statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control, only one case of HIV infection through kissing has been recorded. But the infection occurred through a bite from a partner, and not through a simple kiss. At the same time, blood was noticeable and the wound was open. Scientists have determined that the infection in this case occurred through blood, and not through saliva.

The saliva of HIV-positive people contains the virus, like any other liquid, but in very small concentrations. 15 years of work by specialists studying HIV have shown that it is almost impossible to become infected through saliva. The danger appears only if there are open bleeding wounds in the oral cavity. Only then does the likelihood of infection become real, and in this case it is better to exclude kissing. However, a simple kiss on the lips cannot harm you. If there are no cracks, ulcers or open wounds on your lips and mouth, then you can kiss safely.

However, even knowing that HIV cannot be transmitted through a kiss, it is important to remember that the possibility still exists. Therefore, you should not be too unprincipled when choosing the person with whom the kiss will happen. In the end, no one can guarantee that a stranger will not bite you when kissing, as in that single case of HIV infection through a kiss. Therefore, you should kiss, as well as have sex, only with a reliable person in whom you are completely confident. Even if your partner is HIV-positive, you must completely trust him, only in this case the likelihood of infection will approach almost zero.

Today, when it is easy to obtain any information, it is very important to be information literate, it is important to have information, it is important to clearly know what can affect your life. You should not believe rumors that may be very far from the truth. Any information must be verified, otherwise your loved one may suffer. Today there are many examples of discordant couples in which one of the partners is HIV-positive. And such couples live happy lives, no different from couples in which both partners are HIV negative. The main difference is preventive measures and accuracy during sexual intercourse.

This disease was first discovered in the 80s of the 20th century in America. Immunodeficiency is caused by the HIV virus. This virus in the human body causes symptoms that can weaken the human body's natural defenses. This leads to a significant threat of the development of many other diseases, including even oncology.

If we talk about the very principle of action of the HIV virus in the human body, then its basis is that it attacks a certain type of white blood cells (so-called T-lymphocytes). First, the virus multiplies in them, and then kills. Thus, it influences their presence in the body. A low concentration of T-lymphocytes leads to a deterioration in the immunity of the infected organism, resulting in a failure of the immune system, and the infected person develops AIDS.

One of the biggest pitfalls of this disease, in most cases, is the fact that an HIV-positive person can live for several years without knowing that he is a carrier of the disease, since he does not have any alarming changes in his health. Naturally, a person can transmit HIV to another person during this period. Unfortunately, this happens often. The period when an infected person feels completely healthy, without worrying about his health, is called the asymptomatic stage of infection. It is a widespread stage of the disease, during which the disease can only be detected by testing for the presence of the HIV virus.

The prevalence of HIV raises a number of questions regarding the infection. Most often, people are interested in whether it is possible to become infected with HIV through a kiss (or whether it is possible to become infected with AIDS through a kiss), what and what actions can cause infection, how the virus can be transmitted, etc.

In recent years, only 3 possibilities have been known for how HIV can be transmitted. Transmission of infection is possible in the following ways:

• unprotected sex;
• transmission through blood (via transfusion or syringe use);
• transmission from pregnant woman to fetus.

The most common method of infection today involves sexual intercourse without using a condom; oral sex can also be considered risky. This is especially true in cases where the oral mucosa comes into contact with semen or vaginal secretions. Risky actions include unprotected anal sex, especially for a passive partner. Classic vaginal intercourse without using a condom is very dangerous. Perhaps the most important principle is that every couple should use a condom during sexual intercourse. Different types of contraceptives or interrupted sexual intercourse do not prevent infection with AIDS or any other sexually transmitted disease.

It should be added that the risk of infection increases significantly in situations where the infected person is a man rather than a woman. Vaginal secretions contain much less HIV than semen. In addition, the risk of infection increases significantly at a time when one or the other partner has a concomitant sexually transmitted disease. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to any wounds or abrasions in the genital area. Even these, unfortunately, can lead to the risk of infection.

In addition to the above method of transmission through unprotected sex, there is also the possibility of contracting the HIV virus through blood transfusion or administration of blood products. However, this option is currently practically not being considered. All blood donors have been tested for HIV for more than 10 years.

Infection through small open wounds is also not considered very likely: as a rule, in such situations, the concentration of the virus is so low that infection does not occur.

Bringing your own shaving kit and toothbrush is a must. Tattoo enthusiasts should carefully check that the artist is using sterile equipment. This rule also applies to piercings on any part of the body.

The possibility of transmitting the HIV virus through blood increases when injecting drugs is used by sharing a syringe or the drug itself.

The next method of transmission of the virus is infection of the child from the mother. Transfer can occur in 3 ways:

• during pregnancy;
• during childbirth;
• while breastfeeding.

It should be noted that a positive HIV test result does not guarantee that the child will become infected. Today, modern therapeutic and preventive methods can reduce the possible risk of transmission by approximately one third.

In our country, pregnant women are currently automatically tested for HIV infection.

Although the existing modes of transmission of HIV infection are quite well known, mainly due to various information activities carried out in recent years, some myths still circulate regarding the danger that a healthy person is exposed to during contact with an infected person.

Even today, people are often afraid that they can become infected during social relationships between people: through the air, for example, being in the same room, shaking hands, through kissing, etc.

In fact, you can calm down, these fears are completely unfounded. HIV is not transmitted through hugging or kissing.

Despite the fact that sometimes a certain amount of the virus is found in the saliva of HIV-positive individuals, it is so small that the question of whether HIV can be transmitted through a kiss is not relevant. In addition, saliva contains special substances that destroy the virus. This statement is confirmed by the fact that available medical reports to this time do not indicate a single case in which transmission of infection occurred in this manner. However, when considering the question of whether HIV is transmitted in this way, it should be noted the so-called. French kissing, which may involve some risk due to the possible presence of sores in the oral cavity. The likelihood of infection, however, despite this, remains negligible. Moreover, the fact that someone would be able to kiss a person with blood in their mouth seems unlikely.

In addition, there is no risk if a healthy person lives in the same household as an infected person. When you eat from a shared dish or prepare tea in a shared pot, there is no reason to be afraid of anything.

Sometimes people also consider such questions if there is - especially when traveling to exotic countries - the possibility of infection through insect bites that have previously bitten an infected person. Such cases can also be considered unlikely. The proof, in this case, is the fact that in Africa, which is the continent with the highest incidence, not a single case of infection among tourists has been identified to date. In addition, from a scientific point of view, this fact confirms the assumption that the HIV virus does not have the ability to multiply in the body of insects.

The HIV virus is not resistant to general environmental influences; it dies almost immediately after the blood or secretions in which it is present dries; in addition, it can be destroyed by temperatures exceeding 60°C. In addition, in addition to the above substances contained in saliva, the virus is also destroyed by conventional disinfectants.