The potential risks and effects of kissing a deceased person are important to understand. Knowing what can happen helps people make informed and safe decisions during emotionally difficult moments.

Although most healthy adults have strong immune systems, exposure to unfamiliar or concentrated bacteria can still lead to infections, particularly if there are cuts, sores, or inflammation in the mouth or lips. Individuals with weakened immune systems—such as the elderly, pregnant women, or people with chronic illnesses—are at a higher risk.

It is important to clarify that casual contact does not automatically result in illness. However, the risk is not zero, and it increases the longer the time between death and physical contact, as bacterial growth intensifies over time.

Viruses and Postmortem Transmission: Understanding the Reality
Another common concern involves viruses. Certain viruses can survive for a limited time after death, particularly in bodily fluids such as blood or saliva. Examples include hepatitis B and C, HIV, and, in rare cases, tuberculosis bacteria present in respiratory secretions.

That said, it is essential to avoid misinformation. The risk of contracting viruses like HIV through casual contact, including kissing, is extremely low, even after death.

HIV does not survive long outside the living human body and is not transmitted through saliva alone. However, if there is contact with blood or open sores, the theoretical risk increases slightly.