IDL - International Digital Library For Medical & Research Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017
Available at: www.dbpublications.org
International e-Journal For Medical And Research-2017
Breast Feeding and HIV Infection FAUZIA JAWAID KAZI, Assistant Professor, KGMU-Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow India.
Abstract:Approximately
one-third
of
Factors that may decrease the risk of
infants born to HIV-positive mothers
HIV transmission through breastfeeding
contract HIV through mother-to-child
include:
transmission, becoming infected during Shorter
their mothers' pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding
without
duration
of
breastfeeding. The longer a child
preventive
is breastfed by an HIV-positive
interventions. In 2001, 800,000 children
mother the higher the risk of HIV
under the age of 15 contracted HIV, over
infection.
90 per cent of them through mother-to-
Breastfeeding
for
6
months has about one third of the
child transmission of HIV (MTCT).
risk of breastfeeding for 2 years.
Between 15 and 25% of children born to
Exclusive breastfeeding in the
HIV-infected mothers get infected with
early
HIV during pregnancy or delivery, while
months. Some
immunological studies are finding
about 15% of the children get infected
that there are factors in human
through breastfeeding.
milk, especially the milk of the the IDL - International Digital Library
1|P a g e
Copyright@IDL-2017
IDL - International Digital Library For Medical & Research Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017
Available at: www.dbpublications.org
International e-Journal For Medical And Research-2017
HIV-infected mother, that will
The risk of HIV-infection has to be
directly combat the cells that
compared with the risk of morbidity and
contribute to the transmission of
mortality
the HIV infection. A study done in
Breastfeeding is protective against death
Durban, South Africa showed that
from diarrhoea, respiratory and other
exclusive breastfeeding during the
infections, particularly in the first months
first 3 months of life resulted in a
of life. Breastfeeding also provides the
lower risk of MTCT than mixed
necessary
feeding (breastfeeding combined
ingredients, as well as the stimulation
with other foods, juices or water)
necessary for good psychosocial and
Prevention and treatment of
neurological development, and contributes
breast
to birth spacing.
problems. Mastitis
and
due
to
not
nutritional
breastfeeding.
and
related
cracked nipples and other causes of
breast
inflammation
are
Breastfeeding saves lives
associated with an increased risk
ď ś For
of HIV-transmission. Prevention
of
during
breastfeeding. The
HIV-infected
mothers,
especially in developing countries,
HIV-infection
the decision to breastfeed or to give breastmilk substitutes like
maternal viral load is higher
infant formula or modified cow's
shortly after a new infection
milk provides a dilemma. While
resulting in an increased risk of
breastfeeding increases the risk of
infection of the child.
HIV-transmission to the child with
Early treatment of sores or
up to 15%, giving breastmilk
thrush in the mouth of the
substitutes instead of breastmilk
infant. Sores in the infant's mouth
increases the risk due to infectious
make it easier for the virus to enter
diseases
the infant's body.
like
diarrhoea
respiratory infections
about
and 6
times during the first 2 months. IDL - International Digital Library
2|P a g e
Copyright@IDL-2017
IDL - International Digital Library For Medical & Research Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017
Available at: www.dbpublications.org
International e-Journal For Medical And Research-2017
ď ś Many
developing
ď ś The risk of HIV-infection has to
countries cannot afford breastmilk
be compared with the risk of
substitutes and lack access to clean
morbidity and mortality due to not
water, which is essential for their
breastfeeding.
safe preparation and use. Also in
protective
many cultures there is a stigma
diarrhoea, respiratory and other
against
A
infections, particularly in the first
mother living with HIV/AIDS
months of life. Breastfeeding also
therefore
grave
provides the necessary nutritional
difficulties: worries about her own
and related ingredients, as well as
health and survival, the risk of
the stimulation necessary for good
infecting
psychosocial
mothers
not
in
breastfeeding.
faces
her
many
baby
through
Breastfeeding
against
and
death
is
from
neurological
breastmilk, and the danger that her
development, and contributes to
baby will develop other health
birth
problems
if
she
does
spacin.
not
breastfeed.
Relative risk of infectious disease mortality among non -breastfed infants.
Age (months) IDL - International Digital Library
3|P a g e
Copyright@IDL-2017
IDL - International Digital Library For Medical & Research Volume 1, Issue 4, Apr 2017
Available at: www.dbpublications.org
International e-Journal For Medical And Research-2017
References: 1. NACO, Guidelines for care of HIVexposed infants and children infants and children less than 18 months. New Delhi: National AIDS Control Organization; 2010 Jan 24-36. 2. Sherman GG, Cooper PA, et al. Polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis for human immunodeficiency virus infection in infancy in low resource settings. Pediatr Infect Dis J Med 2005:24:9937. 3. Violari A, Cotton MF, Gibb DM, Babiker AG, Steyn J, Madhi SA, et al. Early antiretroviral therapy and mortality among HIV infected infants. N Engl J Med 2008: 359:2233-44
IDL - International Digital Library
4|P a g e
Copyright@IDL-2017