Expert: David Scott - 10/7/2001

Question
Hi there..!
    How are u ? I am an actress and i think i had mailed u earlier....(and even if i didnot, please dont mind).My question is regarding the risks of kissing.I BEG you to please share with me. even the SLIGHTEST knowledge about the questions i am asking below.
         Anyways I have gone through a lot of websites and experts advice,regarding transmission of hiv through DEEP KISSING (SMOOCHING).But I am confused, because all the answers are MIXED.

QUESTION 1:
*>Some say, transmission is possible through  SMALL BUT VISIBLE cuts
*>Some say that transmission is possible EVEN through cuts which are INVISIBLE through a naked eye.
*>Some say that for the transmission to take place.....u need ONLY BIG VISIBLE  cuts, since small cuts donot  transmit as many virus as to cause an infection,(and also because there are enzymes present in mouth which kills the virus).
*>whereas some say that its only theorotical ...and cannot happen practically (since there are no cases of infection through kissing).
    I want to know what is the TRUTH?WHICH CONDITION HOLDS AND WHICH DOES NOT FROM THE ABOVE ?

PLZ NOTE: THAT THE QUESTIONS HERE ONWARDS ARE IN DETAIL ...TAKEN FROM THE QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2:
I have read that for transmission of hiv through deep kissing , both partners need to have a cut/sore in their mouths...IRRESPECTIVE of the size of hole /cut.
    THAT MEANS :  IF.... EVEN A PIN HOLE SIZE CUT/SORE is present in BOTH partner's mouth, the transmission IS POSSIBLE....    since the blood of the  Infected person's PIN HOLE ...enters the pin hole of the uninfected person...while deep kissing.Please tell me: .IS THIS TRUE OR FALSE?
 
QUESTION 3:  
I have also heard that if both of us have examined our mouths for cuts/sores, and BOTH of us, see NO  VISIBLE CUT OR BLOOD....then too hiv transmission can take place , through  VERY SMALL CUTS/SORES .....which CANNOT be seen through a NAKED EYE (i.e INVISIBLE) ..since these cuts are visible ONLY under higly powerful microscopes.....
     THIS IS BECAUSE  the hiv virus is so small, that such MICRO AND INVISIBLE HOLES are BIG ENOUGH for them to enter..............Please tell me....is ALL this TRUE ? Is transmission possible , LIKE THIS..when we may  NOT BE EVEN AWARE OF SUCH MICRO AND INVISIBLE CUTS if they are present in our mouths?

QUESTION 4:
If your answers for QUESTIONS 2 AND 3 is YES......then how is it that uptil now, there has NEVER BEEN A SINGLE CASE , where any one has ever got infected through DEEP KISSING ? I just dont understand what should i believe? Should i believe that it can never happen to me since it has never happened to any one or should i believe in the theorotical possibilities which have never happened uptil now? Is the transmission of hiv through DEEP KISSING only THEOROTICAL  and NOT PRACTICAL...?
     Among the millions of hiv cases,  WHY HAS NOBODY  EVER got infected through DEEP KISSING if SCIENTISTS say that it is possible even practically....specially when transmission can take place, through such MICRO AND PIN HOLE SIZED cuts.....leaving ALMOST NO MARGIN FOR ERROR for the kissers?

Whats the actual reason out of the below given  possibilities :

a>is it that the records are WRONG or NOT COMPLETELY TRUE AND RELIABLE?

b> Is it , because most people who GET INFECTED , DONT just stop AT KISSING..? i mean , is it that AFTER KISSING, they often indulge into other more risky activities , and thats why its difficult for the doctor to determine whether the transmission took place ONLY BECAUSE OF KISSING or because of some other sexual activity ?

c > Or is it that transmission of HIV through kissing is TRULY only THEOROTICAL and it can NEVER happen PRACTICALLY ?

QUESTION 5:
I read that recently , there has  been 1 case of a COUPLE found, where hiv was  transmitted through kissing.But in such cases, BOTH, the husband and wife, had SERIOUS gum bleeding problems, and thier gums used to bleed after brushing.....but not every one has BLEEDING GUMS RIGHT? So if some one sees  his mouth in a mirror THROUGH NAKED EYES, and finds no blood, CAN HE CONSIDER HIMSELF safe from catching the virus?... IRRESPECTIVE of his partner's oral health status?.......
    I MEAN TO ASK: Can I be assured, that AS FAR AS I HAVE NO VISIBLE bood or cut in MY MOUTH, I can  NEVER GET AIDS?.....(EVEN if MY PARTNER HAS bleeding gums, which neither of us are aware of ?                                                                                    OR
Do I still  have to worry about the transmission possible through those PIN HOLE AND MICRO (INVISIBLE), cuts that may be present in my mouth..and which i CAN NEVER EVER see..?
    Dear Friend, I know my email may be the LONGEST AND THE MOST COMPLICATED ONE, but u see its a question of LIFE AND DEATH.And so i humbly request you, to please TAKE UR SWEET TIME... as LONG AS U WANT,but  PLEASE make sure that you DONT FORGET to answer  EACH AND EVERY QUESTION of mine..... (POINTWISE..AND IN DETAIL...the way i have asked u PLEASE..for my better understanding.)
    Thanking you from the bottom of my heart, and waiting for ur reply,

I remain,

Yours Friendly,

ACTRESS.

EMAIL:  sweetwillpower@yahoo.com

PS: I would appreciate if u could give me 1> ur personal email add for faster communication 2> The names of the BEST BOOKS where I can find information in DEEP about transmission of AIDS 3> Other sites which work like allexperts.com..where I can consult more experts regarding HIV.4> Please also tell me any practical examples of urself or if anyone u know, who has kissed a person having AIDS and who HAS OR HASNT GOT infected from kissing.(so that such practical examples can help me judge and decide whether i must go in for kissing with my CO-STARS or not(without asking them to do an hiv test)... during SMOOCHING SCENES in the movies.)


                                            **************************


Answer
Dear Actress,
My immediate response is to tell you that the HIV virus can not survive in human saliva, and certainly not in your stomach.  HIV can only be transmitted by direct, blood to blood contact.  You are not likely to find any cases of HIV being transmitted between two individuals unless ALL the following are true: both people have bleeding sores in their mouth, those sores come in contact with each other for a sustained time, and both people have high Viral Loads in their blood stream.
To answer Question 2: Saliva is part of your digestive tract.  Once saliva mixes with blood and/or HIV, it will be dissolved.  The HIV virus becomes inactive the instant it is not surrounded by either blood, bodily fluids (other than those found in the digestive tract: i.e. saliva, stomach acid), or breast milk.  So you would not transmit HIV through a pin hole in your mouth unless you pressed it against a pin hole in another person's mouth, and one of you had HIV.  But then you would have to hold your mouths in place long enough to allow both person's blood time to mix thoroughly.  HIV is very difficult to contract unless you try, or are careless.
To answer Question 3: No, transmission is not possible in this scenario.  HIV is a very weak virus.  It dies the instant it is not in the conditions I described above.  A spec of blood in your mouth would not make the journey from one blood stream to another in tact.
To answer Question 4: Theoretically, if you listen to scientists, HIV can be contracted by a person who has HIV, coughs (thus bringing blood and flem from their lung), and their cough goes in someone's ear, and then the HIV is absorbed into the ear membrane.  Please.  This is the real world.  You are right: HIV is spread by people who do not stop at kissing, or do not know their partner has HIV, or share needles during illicit drug use.
To answer Question 5: You are right, you do need two people to spread HIV.  You would be at your safest if you never kissed anyone with a sore or blood on their lips, nor blood in their mouth (visible blood).
However, this reponse only addresses the transmission of HIV, not the multitude of diseases that can be spread through contact, kissing, and intimate contact.
You should request more money for the liability you incur when you kiss strangers while acting.
I hope this response helps, and you are able to sleep better at night.
I can be reached at David@PalmBeachResearch.com.
David