Kissing Cold Sore Risk Of Getting AIDS

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 »

syphilis risk from kissing?

First, Dr. Frascino, let me say that I cried when I read about you having HIV and how you got it. I cried not because I'm sad, but because of how much I admire the way you seem to be living your life to the fullest and helping others, not just...

Response from Robert J. Frascino, M.D.

The Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation

Hello,Sorry there are no estimated risk statistics for the risk of acquiring syphilis from French kissing. Likewise for other STDs.Can it happen? Sure. If someone has an active cold sore, he or she could transmit herpes to his or partner with a... 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 »

Open Mouth Sores And Kissing

Me and My ex-boyfriend were dating for a while and we kissed a lot. When we first kissed he had open sores in his mouth. The a few weeks later I got sores in my mouth. We still kissed a lot. After we broke up his brother and best friend told me that...

Response from David A. Reznik, D.D.S.

Grady Health System

Whereas it is true that HIV can be transmitted orally, the vast majority of cases involved oral intercourse, not deep kissing. At the recent 4th International Oral AIDS Conference held in South Africa, the risk of transmission via oral intercourse... Read more »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Connect With Others

Kissing shaft and sitting Risk too?

Posted by happyheart, 2 Replies

I French kissed a man, and I sat on his penis when I had no underwear nor anything else on], which was covered by his underwear, but I noticed a medium sized wet spot on there, likely from his pre semen or semen. This was on one occasion. On another... Read more »

cold sores

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

Hi all, this is not a question if i have hiv.
about 4 months ago(while under alot of stress) on my upper lip i noticed lots of little white bumps(tiny)I thought maybe it was cold sores but 3 months later they have not burst or anything, Iam wondering... Read more »

Cold/Canker Sores

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

I had a quick question about cold and canker sores. I've had 2 cold sores and 1 canker sore in the past year. Does this seem abnormal, and if so are these possible symptoms of HIV. I has one possible exposure over a year ago, I got tested outside... Read more »

Cold sores /hiv infection

Posted by bug, 2 Replies

Hello,
I recently had sex with a prostitute and was so drunk(and stupid) i couldn't think of any possible dangers.
The prostitute had several cold sores on her body. We had unprotected oral sex (lasted less than a minute) and 2 times protected vaginal... 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 >>