Can You Contract HIV From Kissing Cold Sore

Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:

Get the Facts

Herpes Simplex (Cold Sores and Genital Herpes)

What Is Herpes? Herpes simplex refers to a group of viruses that infect humans. Like herpes zoster (shingles, see Fact Sheet 509 ), herpes simplex causes painful skin eruptions. Itching and tingling are usually the first signs, followed by a blister that breaks open. The infection stays dormant in nerve cells. This is called "latency." However, it can become active again with no warning. Herpes can be active without symptoms or visible signs....

Ask the Experts

wet kissing with cold sores

What is the relative risk (high, medium, low) for this situation: I engaged in wet kissing (I don't know if my partner has HIV) and later saw three small cold sores inside my lower lip (each about 0.5mm in size). My partner did not have any...

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W

Columbia University's Health & Related Services

This is not a situation for which I recommend testing. HIV is not transmitted through kissing. RMK... Read more »

How can someone contract HIV? (HIV TRANSMISSION BETWEEN TWO HIV NEGATIVES, 2008)

How can someone contract HIV? I mean if you have sex with multiple HIV negative people, can you contract it? I dont understand. Can someone get it by having unprotected sex with multiple HIV negative people? I dont understand....

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hi,I absolutely agree: You certainly don't understand! Can you contract HIV from having sex with multiple negative people? No, of course not. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease in which an HIV-infected person can transmit the virus to an... Read more »

How to contract HIV (HIV TRANSMISSION BETWEEN TWO HIV NEGATIVES, 2009) (Obama Budget Would Kill Abstinence-Only Funding)

If a HIV - woman and a HIV - man have sexual intercourse while the woman is on her menstrual period, is there a possibility of contracting HIV just because she is on her period? even if both dont have HIV/AIDS?...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,Once again a QTND (question that never dies) arises! And of course the ATNC (answer that never changes) remains unchanged! Two HIV-negative people cannot create HIV out of thin air and transmit it to each other. (See below.) Menstrual blood... Read more »

risk of HIV from oral sex with cold sore

what are the risk of contracting hiv from someone from the act of performing oral sex when cold sore blisters are present on the lips of the partner providing the oral sex?would the use of a condom reduce the risk? it is possible for the virus to be...

Response from Ryan M. Kull, C.S.W

Columbia University's Health & Related Services

Theoretically, if you have some sort of active sore or lesion and that comes into contact with HIV infected fluids, there would be an increased risk of HIV transmission. A barrier that prevents fluids from coming into contact with the sore would... Read more »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Connect With Others

HIV contraction possible in this scenario?

Posted by Melissa_Rowan, 1 Reply

I have a question. I noticed I had some blood looking spots on my sleeve, after I wiped my nose with my shirt , my nose in which was sore and raw from a cold. Theoretically if the blood on my shirt was from an HIV+ person and I did wipe my sore and... Read more »

hiv transmits through kissing

Posted by maruti, 2 Replies

this is vipin my age is 26,last week i kissed one girl its a open mouth kiss for 20secs,there was no blood in my mouth,no cuts,there is any chance to get hiv infection for me,plz help me i was scared Read more »

Kissing a HIV- person

Posted by gordon, 9 Replies

Unless I am mistaken if you kiss a person mouth to mouth and one of you is have HIV+ and the HIV+ person has a small cut in the gums or in the mouth area. The suliva with a small potion of blood will be trasmitted, hence making the other person... Read more »

Another "Kissing" Question

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Here goes.... A week ago I received several lap dances in a strip club. The dancer and I engaged in some brief open mouth contact, not deep or prolonged, but some tongue-to-tongue contact. I would not worry about it, but three days later I... Read more »

Connect on Our Bulletin Boards »

Tools

My Health Tracker

Assess Your Risk for HIV

Find Local HIV/AIDS Services

Resource Centers

Guides for People With HIV

View All of Our Guides >>