Can Kissing Cause HIV?

Posted on Sat, 6 Dec 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 6 Dec 2014 Answered on

Fri, 26 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Can deep kissing cause HIV? How many such cases reported in India?
What is the window period of HIV antibody test?
Is a test after 4 months final?
Is there any requirement of further test?

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Risk of HIV transmission through deep kiss is negligible.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.

Human saliva does not contain adequate viral load to cause an infection. Saliva is not contagious as far as HIV is considered.
So deep kissing is not a common mode of transmission for HIV. If there was an oral infection, gingivitis or any other bleeding condition for the HIV positive partner, then there was a possibility of deep kiss became infectious.
I had not come across any such case acquired HIV through deep kissing in my 25 years of experience with HIV patients or not seen any report or presentation in any journal or conferences within XXXXXXX

Window period for HIV may vary from 3 months to a year.

Yes, a test after 6 months can be considered final.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (10 hours later)

Many countries including UK considering 3 months test final. In your experience did you see any healthy person negative turned positive later on? Is still modern 3rd generation test need that much time to find out positive result?

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Test after 3 months conclusive

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Yes you are correct.

Normally the results done 90 days after the risky contact is conclusive in a normal immuno-competent individual. Only in situation where the individual is on steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs or ART in the form of Post exposure Prophylaxis, it might get extended up to 6 months.

Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)

Why NACO is saying 6 months is conclusive? Where other countries changed their policy. Did u see any cases of late seroconversion where 3 months negative turned positive at 6 months?

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Yet to come across one such case with extended window period

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.

Some people might be on some drugs which could delay the antibody production and thereby the window period up to 6 months (very very minimal), and they could not be isolated or screened separately as it takes another procedure, NACO could have framed like this.

In my experience I had not come across any such cases found non reactive till 90 days after the high risk activity and became reactive subsequently.
Dr S.Murugan

Note: Get personalized answers to your HIV related queries You can choose to talk face to face with your doctor. Book a Video Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj