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What Are The Chances Of STD Transmission Through Saliva?
Question: Dear Doctor,
I live in a apartment. My kid is 8 months old.
I saw a neighbour lady she was feeding a sweet i think it is sugar to my babies mouth. I dint expect this bcoz she is risky for stds. I got worried if she has transfered any STD to my 8 months old baby.
1) What is the chance if her saliva in her fingers entered to my babies mouth when she was feeding. What i think is she might have touched her mouth before feeding my baby so that the saliva will be present in her fingers.
2) what is the chance of my baby getting STD if she has any tiny cuts in her fingers bcoz she feed through her fingers.
I live in a apartment. My kid is 8 months old.
I saw a neighbour lady she was feeding a sweet i think it is sugar to my babies mouth. I dint expect this bcoz she is risky for stds. I got worried if she has transfered any STD to my 8 months old baby.
1) What is the chance if her saliva in her fingers entered to my babies mouth when she was feeding. What i think is she might have touched her mouth before feeding my baby so that the saliva will be present in her fingers.
2) what is the chance of my baby getting STD if she has any tiny cuts in her fingers bcoz she feed through her fingers.
Brief Answer:
No risk
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
welcome to HCM and thanks you for query.
I have read your qiery and understand the concern about your baby.
I think you are getting to anxious about the incident especially when you do not know the status of person,that lady whether having any STDs or not.
She may be negative for all.
Saliva usually does not transmit by the mode described and also the chances that blood will be mixed through tiny cuts in it, is very rare.
Hiv, hep b and c, syphilis, herpes are all rarely transmitted by this method .
Or just a cut does not make your baby fully at risk .
There is almost no risk of any STDs and you can relax and forget the episode.
Thank you,
Regards,
No risk
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
welcome to HCM and thanks you for query.
I have read your qiery and understand the concern about your baby.
I think you are getting to anxious about the incident especially when you do not know the status of person,that lady whether having any STDs or not.
She may be negative for all.
Saliva usually does not transmit by the mode described and also the chances that blood will be mixed through tiny cuts in it, is very rare.
Hiv, hep b and c, syphilis, herpes are all rarely transmitted by this method .
Or just a cut does not make your baby fully at risk .
There is almost no risk of any STDs and you can relax and forget the episode.
Thank you,
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Dear Doctor,
Thanks for your answer. Yes i was filled with anxiety of this incident.
1) Does saliva transmit std indirectly(means not direct mouth to mouth). From her mouth to fingers and then from her fingers to my babies mouth? Or when the hand was outside her mouth the std will killed immediately before going to my babies mouth? Since there will be few seconds the finger exposed to air. SO these few seconds will kill stds when exposed to air?
2) If there is any tiny cut in the fingers that tiny cut will not transmit any stds? if so why?
3) Im not going to test but if i test, the testing methods for stds will be same as adults? Will the small kid takes more time than adults to produce antibodies?
Thanks for your answer. Yes i was filled with anxiety of this incident.
1) Does saliva transmit std indirectly(means not direct mouth to mouth). From her mouth to fingers and then from her fingers to my babies mouth? Or when the hand was outside her mouth the std will killed immediately before going to my babies mouth? Since there will be few seconds the finger exposed to air. SO these few seconds will kill stds when exposed to air?
2) If there is any tiny cut in the fingers that tiny cut will not transmit any stds? if so why?
3) Im not going to test but if i test, the testing methods for stds will be same as adults? Will the small kid takes more time than adults to produce antibodies?
Brief Answer:
No risk of STDs
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the reply,
Saliva rarely contains STD bacteria or virus,so there is no scope of transmission even by indirect mean what you described here,
Or when STD (a particular disease) has gone to a extreme stage,only when the virus or bacteria starts excreted through saliva which does NOT seem to be in that lady's case.
And yes,virus or bacteria except hepatitis virus gets killed immediately after coming to exposed air.
Small or tiny cut may contain STD germs if they bleed,otherwise there is no chance.
So,there is no need of any testing in your baby's case.And yes,baby may take some more time to get antibodies since their immune system has not well established yet.Testing methods will be more or less same in babies just like adults.
I do NOT think there is anything to be worried here.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
No risk of STDs
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for the reply,
Saliva rarely contains STD bacteria or virus,so there is no scope of transmission even by indirect mean what you described here,
Or when STD (a particular disease) has gone to a extreme stage,only when the virus or bacteria starts excreted through saliva which does NOT seem to be in that lady's case.
And yes,virus or bacteria except hepatitis virus gets killed immediately after coming to exposed air.
Small or tiny cut may contain STD germs if they bleed,otherwise there is no chance.
So,there is no need of any testing in your baby's case.And yes,baby may take some more time to get antibodies since their immune system has not well established yet.Testing methods will be more or less same in babies just like adults.
I do NOT think there is anything to be worried here.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
Dear Doctor,
Im not worried about the lady but her husband was very risky guy. I came to know that he has lot of contacts other than her wife.
1) Will the std be transmitted if she has open cuts that was clotted? because i dint notice any bleeding cuts.
2) It happened before 4 months. If there is any std infection will the babies shows symptoms? If yes what symptoms will be present.
3) Im not worried about hepatitis because my kid was vaccinated for hep A&B. I think hep c will not transmit the way i worry.
4) My main concern was hiv. If hiv infected blood comes out of body how long it will be infectious when the blood is wet condition. My main concern is saliva mixed with tiny blood.
Im not worried about the lady but her husband was very risky guy. I came to know that he has lot of contacts other than her wife.
1) Will the std be transmitted if she has open cuts that was clotted? because i dint notice any bleeding cuts.
2) It happened before 4 months. If there is any std infection will the babies shows symptoms? If yes what symptoms will be present.
3) Im not worried about hepatitis because my kid was vaccinated for hep A&B. I think hep c will not transmit the way i worry.
4) My main concern was hiv. If hiv infected blood comes out of body how long it will be infectious when the blood is wet condition. My main concern is saliva mixed with tiny blood.
Brief Answer:
Will answer one by one.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking again,
1) Yes,STD can be transmitted through clotted blood but it should come in contact with mucosal surface like open wound. In your child's case,there is almost NO chance if that clotted blood mix with saliva is engulfed while feeding since there is no reported case of HIV transmitted by this way.
However,there is no need to worry as you had not noticed any cut or wound.
2) Mostly,symptoms starts to appear within 1 month in STDs like mild fever,throat pain and skin rashes.
3) Since your baby is already vaccinated with with Hepatitis A and B,there is no questions about it.
4) Usually,HIV virus die immediately when comes out of body whether on intact skin or into air but virus may survive up to 1 day if the atmosphere is favorable like temperature,humidity.
However,virus transmission is really questionable thorough this means because no HIV infected case has been reported by the this way.
Finally,I do not think there is anything to be worried about HIV transmission in your baby.
Hope this help and let me know if you want more clarifications.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Will answer one by one.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking again,
1) Yes,STD can be transmitted through clotted blood but it should come in contact with mucosal surface like open wound. In your child's case,there is almost NO chance if that clotted blood mix with saliva is engulfed while feeding since there is no reported case of HIV transmitted by this way.
However,there is no need to worry as you had not noticed any cut or wound.
2) Mostly,symptoms starts to appear within 1 month in STDs like mild fever,throat pain and skin rashes.
3) Since your baby is already vaccinated with with Hepatitis A and B,there is no questions about it.
4) Usually,HIV virus die immediately when comes out of body whether on intact skin or into air but virus may survive up to 1 day if the atmosphere is favorable like temperature,humidity.
However,virus transmission is really questionable thorough this means because no HIV infected case has been reported by the this way.
Finally,I do not think there is anything to be worried about HIV transmission in your baby.
Hope this help and let me know if you want more clarifications.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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