Can HIV be transmitted through saliva?
Disease description:
I recently spoke with an HIV-positive person and became worried about contracting HIV. Can HIV be transmitted through saliva?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Jihong
Saliva alone is generally not infectious for HIV. The primary modes of HIV transmission are mother-to-child transmission, sexual contact, and blood exposure; HIV is not transmitted through oral saliva under normal circumstances. However, if a person has active oral ulcers and comes into contact with blood from an HIV-positive individual in the mouth, there is a potential risk of HIV infection. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid sharing meals with individuals living with HIV during episodes of oral ulcers to help prevent transmission.
