Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Does Saliva Transmit HIV?
Question: Good Evening Doctor, , Below is my situation and need your help to clarify me.
Today, I was with my son on Bettle leaves pan shop in XXXXXXX Here is the place where many people come here for getting pan for chewing and after putting pan in their mouth, people generally wipe their saliva in surface of the wooden table, which is in front of the shop. My son 5 year old touched that same wooden table ( where saliva is present) for 2 minutes in a finger and palm and he suddenly put his finger and licked his palm with some sweets to eat. Does this situation transmit hiv? Kindly help
Today, I was with my son on Bettle leaves pan shop in XXXXXXX Here is the place where many people come here for getting pan for chewing and after putting pan in their mouth, people generally wipe their saliva in surface of the wooden table, which is in front of the shop. My son 5 year old touched that same wooden table ( where saliva is present) for 2 minutes in a finger and palm and he suddenly put his finger and licked his palm with some sweets to eat. Does this situation transmit hiv? Kindly help
Brief Answer:
HIV transmission is very much unlikely in this way.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Two things we have to keep in mind....
1. HIV cannot survive outside the body fluids not more the few seconds.
2. Human saliva has an enzyme called as lysozyme which inimical to HIV. So, Human saliva is not infectious as far as HIV is concerned unless it is contaminated with blood. In this situation also, as I had mentioned earlier, HIV cannot be viable for not more than few seconds.
So, You need not worry about HIV transmission to your 5 year old son through the way mentioned by you.
At the same time, bacterial and viral infections those can cause common cold, sore throat, tuberculosis. covid can be transmitted through saliva contamination.
Dr S. Murugan
HIV transmission is very much unlikely in this way.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Two things we have to keep in mind....
1. HIV cannot survive outside the body fluids not more the few seconds.
2. Human saliva has an enzyme called as lysozyme which inimical to HIV. So, Human saliva is not infectious as far as HIV is concerned unless it is contaminated with blood. In this situation also, as I had mentioned earlier, HIV cannot be viable for not more than few seconds.
So, You need not worry about HIV transmission to your 5 year old son through the way mentioned by you.
At the same time, bacterial and viral infections those can cause common cold, sore throat, tuberculosis. covid can be transmitted through saliva contamination.
Dr S. Murugan
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Saisudha Kotla
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
