If you’ve ever heard of “mono,” then you know of at least one “kissing disease.“Mononucleosis(mono) is probably one of the most well-known infectious diseases among adolescents. While many people know that they can acquire asexually transmitted diseasefrom intercourse, there are also many infections that can be spread through mere kissing alone.
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Infectious Diseases in Saliva
Infectious diseases can be spread through several routes of transmission. Oral transmission refers to the spreading of microbes through saliva or shared foods and drinks.
When a person accidentally consumes microbe-contaminated items, such as saliva during kissing, the swallowing action of the tongue wipes the microbes against the back of the throat, allowing the microbe to enter the body.
The surfaces of the respiratory tract (nose, mouth, and throat) are continuous and made up of similar tissues. Microbes that are found in the saliva can generally be found in other parts of the respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. Therefore, even colds and flu (and other respiratory infections) can be spread through saliva.
Infectious Diseases From Mouth Sores
Certain infections causing ulcerations in the mouth can also be spread through kissing. These include cold sores and hand, foot, and mouth disease.
In contrast to infections spread through the saliva, HSV-1 is spread through open cold sores on the lips or near the mouth.Although the infection is contagious through all stages of a cold sore, the infection is most contagious when the sore is open and leaking fluid.
In contrast to cold sores and coxsackievirus blisters,canker soreshave no infectious disease origin and cannot be spread through saliva or kissing.
HIV and Hepatitis B in Saliva
Hepatitis Bis spread through contact with body fluids infected with the virus, such as direct contact with blood or open wounds.Therefore, it can be spread through sharing a toothbrush, but not through sharing eating utensils, kissing, coughing, or sneezing.
Hepatitis Crequires blood exposure and is typically spread through the use of shared needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs. Hepatitis A requires some form of fecal exposure (which would include contaminated water or food), and is not spread via saliva or kissing.
Kissing is, in general,not considered a risk factor for HIV transmission. It would only be a risk if bleeding occurred or open sores were present.
Natural Microbial Defense
The normal mouth flora (the “good” bacteria) prevent the growth of “bad” bacteria. You also have all sorts of viruses naturally in your body at times, including in your mouth.
Frequently Asked Questions
A social kiss is not considered a risk for HIV since body fluids are not transmitted from one person to another.However, in rare instances, it may be possible to pass HIV on if both people have open, bleeding sores that allow enough of the virus to pass from one person to another.Learn MoreUnderstanding Risk Factors for HIV
A social kiss is not considered a risk for HIV since body fluids are not transmitted from one person to another.However, in rare instances, it may be possible to pass HIV on if both people have open, bleeding sores that allow enough of the virus to pass from one person to another.
Learn MoreUnderstanding Risk Factors for HIV
A person can have mononucleosis and not show symptoms for weeks.When symptoms do start, they are very mild in the beginning with, possibly, just a sore throat and fatigue or headache.Learn MoreSymptoms of Mono
A person can have mononucleosis and not show symptoms for weeks.When symptoms do start, they are very mild in the beginning with, possibly, just a sore throat and fatigue or headache.
Learn MoreSymptoms of Mono
Learn MoreIs it a Cold Sore or a Pimple?
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Does saliva have health risks? 3 ways germs can spread.Merck Manual Professional Version.Streptococcal infections.Corstjens PLAM, Abrams WR, Malamud D.Saliva and viral infections.Periodontology 2000. 2016;70(1):93-110. doi:10.1111/prd.12112World Health Organization.Herpes simplex virus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand, foot, and mouth disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS (interim).Delta Dental.7 vitamins and minerals your mouth needs.HIV.gov.How is HIV transmitted?Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About infectious mononucleosis.Stanford Children’s Hospital.Herpes simplex virus (cold sores) in children.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Does saliva have health risks? 3 ways germs can spread.Merck Manual Professional Version.Streptococcal infections.Corstjens PLAM, Abrams WR, Malamud D.Saliva and viral infections.Periodontology 2000. 2016;70(1):93-110. doi:10.1111/prd.12112World Health Organization.Herpes simplex virus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand, foot, and mouth disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS (interim).Delta Dental.7 vitamins and minerals your mouth needs.HIV.gov.How is HIV transmitted?Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About infectious mononucleosis.Stanford Children’s Hospital.Herpes simplex virus (cold sores) in children.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Does saliva have health risks? 3 ways germs can spread.Merck Manual Professional Version.Streptococcal infections.Corstjens PLAM, Abrams WR, Malamud D.Saliva and viral infections.Periodontology 2000. 2016;70(1):93-110. doi:10.1111/prd.12112World Health Organization.Herpes simplex virus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand, foot, and mouth disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS (interim).Delta Dental.7 vitamins and minerals your mouth needs.HIV.gov.How is HIV transmitted?Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About infectious mononucleosis.Stanford Children’s Hospital.Herpes simplex virus (cold sores) in children.
Cleveland Clinic.Does saliva have health risks? 3 ways germs can spread.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Streptococcal infections.
Corstjens PLAM, Abrams WR, Malamud D.Saliva and viral infections.Periodontology 2000. 2016;70(1):93-110. doi:10.1111/prd.12112
World Health Organization.Herpes simplex virus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis B VIS (interim).
Delta Dental.7 vitamins and minerals your mouth needs.
HIV.gov.How is HIV transmitted?
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About infectious mononucleosis.
Stanford Children’s Hospital.Herpes simplex virus (cold sores) in children.
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