Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.



Question:

There was a friend of the family over yesterday and he has full blown AIDS and no one told me. We shared a marijuana blunt and I would like to know if you can catch the disease by saliva?

Answer provided by:

Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Regional HIV/AIDS Physician Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California


The chance of acquiring HIV from saliva--and in this case, not even direct contact--is infinitesimally small. Please see the enclosed CDC website of HIV transmission--there is nothing to worry about.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm



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