Last Updated on June 19, 2022 by Shabnam Sengupta
No. Tuberculosis is an airborne infection that spreads when a healthy person inhales the bacteria mycobacterium tuberculosis released into the air by an infected person either while speaking or sneezing.
Tuberculosis does not spread while kissing or exchanging bodily fluids. The same has been confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) document. This document also confirms that tuberculosis does not spread while shaking someone’s hand, sharing food and using the bed, toilet or toothbrush of an infected person.
As per the CDC website, the bacteria settle in the lungs of a healthy person where the bacteria begin to multiply. It is possible that bacteria can spread from the lungs to other parts of the body such as the kidney, brain etc. In conclusion, ‘Kissing causes tuberculosis’ is a common myth widespread among people for many decades.
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