Resumen

BARBOSA DE SOUZA, Fábio; RAMOS MARQUES, Candice  y  CARNEIRO LEAO, Jair. Hiv transmission through saliva: myth or reality?. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2006, vol.44, n.2, pp.284-290. ISSN 0001-6365.

The AIDS impact over healthcare professionals and the presence of HIV in body fluids has generated a concern about the possibility of transmission of the virus through the saliva. Frequent handling of the dental surgeon on salivary secretion demands from this professional the necessary knowledge in relation to this possible way of transmission. This review of the literature describes key points regarding this subject, and some conclusions could be drawn: probably, the low concentration of HIV in saliva and the presence of anti-HIV salivary components would be responsible factors for a reduced risk of oral HIV transmission. However, the existence of a portal of entry on oral mucosa creates a possibility of contamination, which should not be neglected.

Palabras clave : Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; saliva; disease transmission.