Many people live with the myth, that HIV and its harmful components are present in the saliva of a HIV positive person. Hence, kissing or sharing food with the patient can be contagious due to the presence of HIV in saliva. However, this is not true. Though the saliva might carry HIV viral RNA or proviral DNA, they are not harmful, when they reside in the human saliva.
The saliva does not carry HIV that could be infectious or contagious. This is because; the saliva does not offer a very favorable condition for the sustenance of HIV. In fact, saliva is a good agent of destroying this virus. It carries special antibodies that fight the HIV components. The antiseptic and "hypotonic" property of saliva is conditioned to destroy any foreign cell that is present in the mouth. It works as a natural defense mechanism in our body.
HIV requires a good quantity of salt for its survival. Therefore, blood gives HIV the most favorable environment for propagation. Saliva, on the contrary, deactivates 90% of the HIV- infected leukocytes, due to lack of salt. Leukocytes or the blood cells, which help in the transmission of HIV to the mucosal surface, fail to succeed in their purpose. The HIV in saliva expands and bursts, due to lack of salt.
For all these reasons HIV does not transfer from mouth to mouth contact.
Nevertheless, the transmission of HIV through kissing is only possible, if both the partners have deep sore in their mouths, deep cut, or heavily bleeding gums. However, the reason behind this contraction cannot exactly be pertained to saliva. Rather, it would be the blood, that would act as the carrier of the HIV virus from one person into the blood stream of the other.
Other bodily fluids that are free from HIV are sweats, tears and urine. Therefore, one should not panic if he is exposed to these bodily fluids of an HIV positive person. There is no harm in : Sharing food, Eating together, Using the same toilet, Sharing clothes, Sharing the same swimming pool.
The fluids that can cause harm are blood, semen and breast milk. Therefore, before coming to contact with these fluids, one must take enough precautions.
HIV attacks the human immune system, destroying white blood cells that protect the body against the virus.
Risk factors for HIV infection include unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex, injecting drugs or steroids with shared needles and diagnosis of other sexually transmitted diseases.
After initial infection, 95 percent of people will develop enough antibodies to test positive within three months, according to the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some may take up to six months.
When should I have a HIV saliva test?
Having sex with someone with a unknown sexual history with multiple partners will increase the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Infection can go undetected if testing is not done. Most tests measure the amount of antibodies that the body creates to combat HIV. Blood, saliva and urine tests are all available.
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