Fact Check: Can Hepatitis B be contracted from kissing?

Can Hepatitis B be contracted from kissing?

Good morning. So guys these are the questions I have been bombarded with for the past 2 years:

“Can hepatitis B be gotten from kissing?”

“Can hepatitis b be gotten from saliva? ”

“What are my chances of getting hepatitis B from kissing a chronic HBV carrier?”

“Does saliva contain high viral load of hepatitis B?”

“Can hepatitis be transmitted through saliva?”

It is simple, I will answer these questions by quoting authority sources and websites below….

“Hepatitis B is not spread through sneezing, coughing, hugging, or breastfeeding. Although the virus can be found in saliva, it is not believed to be spread through kissing or sharing utensils”. (Centre for Disease Control, CDC)

“It is not transmitted by holding hands, hugging, or even dry kissing on the lips. The chance of transmission with deep kissing is unknown, as no infections have been definitively documented after exposure to infected saliva. Yet, since HBV has been found in saliva, the risk of transmission with deep kissing probably exists and the risk increases if one partner wears orthodontic braces or has open cuts or sores in the mouth”. (WebMD)

“Saliva of people with hepatitis B can contain the hepatitis B virus, but in very low concentrations compared with blood. Injections of infected saliva can transmit the virus, so bite injuries can also spread the disease. There are no reports of people getting hepatitis B from mouth contact with infected CPR manikins, kissing, sharing utensils, or mouthpieces of musical instruments”. (CCOHS)

“Hepatitis B is spread by needlestick injury, tattooing, piercing and exposure to infected blood and body fluids, such as saliva, menstrual, vaginal, and seminal fluids.” (WHO)

“Spreading hepatitis B through kissing is highly unlikely, however, deep kissing that involves the exchange of large amounts of saliva might result in infection if there are cuts or abrasions in the mouth of the infected person, especially if they have a high viral load.”(hep.org)

“Hepatitis B isn’t spread through saliva (spit), so you CAN’T get hepatitis B from sharing food or drinks or using the same fork or spoon. Hepatitis B is also not spread through kissing, hugging, holding hands, coughing, sneezing, or breastfeeding”. (Planned Parenthood)

“HBV is NOT spread through water, food, hugging, kissing, and casual contact such as in schools or the workplace’. (Hepnet.org)

“Body fluids of HBV carriers, including saliva, semen, urine, sweat, and tears, have been documented through polymerase chain reaction testing to be positive for HBV. However, infectivity has only been documented in saliva, serum, and semen”. (PubMed)

“Hepatitis B is NOT spread by casual contact such as hugging, kissing or shaking hands or by being around someone who is sneezing or coughing. It cannot be spread by breastfeeding unless the nipples are cracked and bleeding. The hepatitis B virus is not found in food or water. Transmission through saliva not visibly contaminated with blood is uncommon” (Canada.ca)

You can see for yourself that most of these authors and sources claim hepatitis B cannot be transmitted through saliva, but they did not totally rule out the possibilities since the virus is present in the saliva.

Be guided.

Today is World Hepatitis Day and the theme for this year is: “Finding the missing millions”. Please let us help raise awareness.