Can You Get HIV by Being Exposed to Tears?

HIV viral particles (virions) are found in the tears of HIV-positive people. However, you can feel secure comforting your HIV-positive loved ones, as there is too little HIV in tears to lead to infection in another person.

Transmission

For the HIV virus to be transmitted successfully, it needs to pass from an infectious bodily fluid into the bloodstream of an uninfected person.

Tears and Other Fluids

Bodily fluids that contain HIV but too little of the virus to be successfully transmitted to others include tears, saliva and urine.

Infectious Fluids

HIV is transmitted through the blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk of an infected person. Transmission can occur through unprotected sex, sharing injection-drug equipment and breastfeeding.

Non-Risk Activities

It is not possible to contract HIV through casual contact, sharing things like dishes, bathrooms and swimming pools, and HIV is not airborne.

Considerations

There is a risk of infection if there is a quantity of an infectious fluid in a non-infectious fluid--if there is blood present in tears, for instance.

References

• SFAF: Transmission
• Avert.org: Transmission