STD Questions

Hello Dr. H,

Can you get TB from kissing? Is TB considered an STD? Have you seen any cases where someone got TB from being with someone for an hour (the person wasn't coughing and I don't even know if they have it)?

Is there other STDs you can get from kissing someone (not deep kissing) then HSV?

I don't have a cough or anything like that I tested neg on all of my STD test. I'm just concerned. The more I read about STDs on the internet the more mis-informed I get.

Thank you for your time!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, TB is not an STD.  It is spread mostly by microscopic droplets that get into the air when an infected person coughs.  Kissing is unlikely to transmit TB.  People with TB who aren't coughing don't spread TB to others.

In theory, you could get syphilis by kissing, but very rarely.  Even oral herpes isn't commonly acquired in adults by social (non-sexual) kissing.

Yes, there is a lot of confusing information out there, and some websites are terrible.  Go to the STD Facts and Articles link at the top of this forum; you can not only see truly accurate information (much of which I wrote myself), but there are links to other sites that are definitely reliable.  Two good ones are www.cdc.gov/std and www.ashastd.org.

Nobody gets STD by casual contact and social kissing.  If you're not having sex (genital, anal, or oral-genital), you're not at risk.  Period.

Good luck--  HHH, MD