Can you catch tb from kissing?
Someone I know was recently diagnosed with TB. I'm trying to understand how it spreads, and I was specifically wondering if kissing is a way to transmit TB. It's a bit of a concern for me.
5 answers
6 months ago
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I just finished my 6-month TB treatment course recently, so I know a lot about this. TB is an airborne disease spread through microscopic droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, not directly through saliva. However, close intimate contact like kissing puts you right in the zone of breathing in those droplets if the person has active lung TB. Please get it checked if you suspect anything.
6 months ago
TB is quite serious and can be active or latent. Since kissing involves extremely close breathing space, the risk of inhaling airborne droplets from an infected person is very high if their TB is active in the lungs. For your own safety, please don't take any chances and get a proper doctor's screening done immediately.
6 months ago
Let's be direct: if the person has active, untreated lung TB, kissing them is highly risky because of the close proximity to their breath and cough droplets. Don't waste time looking up endless articles online. Go straight to a clinic, explain the exposure, and get a simple chest X-ray or TB skin test done.
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Consult a internal medicine specialist
yrs exp
6 months ago
While TB isn't strictly spread through saliva, kissing brings you so close that you can easily breathe in the bacteria if the other person has active pulmonary TB. A nutritious, high-protein diet is excellent for building overall immunity, but it won't prevent TB transmission. It is best to consult a medical professional for advice.
6 months ago
Having diabetes means I have to be incredibly careful with infections because our immunity can be lower. TB is airborne, so being close enough to kiss someone with active lung TB means you are definitely at risk of inhaling the bacteria. Please monitor yourself for any persistent cough or fever, and seek medical advice promptly.