Can diseases be transmitted through breast milk?

Can Diseases Be Transmitted Through Breast Milk?
Breastfeeding is widely recognized for its numerous health benefits for both infants and mothers. However, a critical concern for new mothers is the potential transmission of infectious diseases through breast milk. Understanding this risk is essential for informed decision-making regarding breastfeeding, especially for mothers with certain health conditions.
Transmission of Infectious Agents
Research indicates that several infectious diseases can indeed be transmitted through breast milk. Notably, viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human T-lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I) have been well-documented as capable of being passed from mother to infant via breastfeeding. These viruses can pose significant health risks to newborns, making it crucial for mothers who are HIV-positive or carry other transmissible infections to consult healthcare providers about the safest feeding options.
In addition to these viral infections, there are concerns regarding other pathogens. For instance, while the risk of transmitting bacterial infections through breast milk is generally low, conditions such as mastitis—an infection of the breast tissue—can increase the likelihood of viral transmission. This highlights the importance of maternal health in the context of breastfeeding.
The Role of Antibodies
Interestingly, breast milk is not solely a vehicle for disease transmission; it also contains antibodies that can help protect infants from infections. For example, studies have shown that breast milk can provide some level of immunity against respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. While the virus itself is not likely transmitted through breast milk, the antibodies produced by the mother can be beneficial for the infant.
Guidelines for Breastfeeding with Infectious Diseases
For mothers diagnosed with transmissible infections, healthcare professionals often recommend specific guidelines. In cases where a mother is HIV-positive, for instance, breastfeeding may be discouraged unless the mother is on effective antiretroviral therapy. Similarly, mothers with active infections should discuss their situation with healthcare providers to determine the best course of action, which may include the use of expressed milk or formula feeding.
Conclusion
In summary, while breastfeeding offers unparalleled benefits, it is essential to recognize the potential risks associated with the transmission of infectious diseases through breast milk. Mothers with certain health conditions should engage in open discussions with their healthcare providers to navigate these challenges effectively. By doing so, they can make informed choices that prioritize both their health and that of their infants.

What illnesses should you not breastfeed?

When Should I Not Breastfeed My Baby?

• If the mother has been infected with HIV or has AIDS.
• Many medications taken by the mother may pass onto the baby via breast milk.
• Mothers with cancer who are taking cancer chemotherapy medications also cannot breastfeed their babies.

Can a mother pass illness through breast milk?

Influenza, or flu, does not spread to infants through breast milk. The transmission rates of other respiratory illness during breastfeeding are low.

Do viruses pass through breast milk?

The concern is about viral pathogens, known to be blood-borne pathogens, which have been identified in breast milk and include but are not limited to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), West Nile virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV), and HIV.

Can anything be passed through breast milk?

Infectious organisms can reach the breast milk either by secretion in the fluid or cellular components of breast milk or by contamination of the milk at the time of or after expression.

What diseases are transmitted through breast milk?

The concern is about viral pathogens, known to be blood-borne pathogens, which have been identified in breast milk and include but are not limited to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), West Nile virus, human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV), and HIV.

What viruses pass through breast milk?

Virus Transmission through Breastfeeding

Virus family	Virus	Demonstrated transmission through breastfeeding
Flaviviridae	HCV	X if the nipples and/or surrounding areola are cracked and bleeding
Hepadnaviridae	HBV
Hepeviridae	HEV
Picornavirus	HAV

What happens if you give a baby the wrong breast milk?

If the proper labeling requirements are followed, the risk of giving a child the wrong bottle of breast milk should be minimal. In the event that a child has been mistakenly fed another child’s bottle of breast milk, there is a risk of possible exposure to HIV and other infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B and C.

Can anything be transmitted through breast milk?

In most maternal viral infections, breast milk is not an important mode of transmission, and continuation of breastfeeding is in the best interest of the infant and mother (see Tables 2 and 3). Maternal bacterial infections rarely are complicated by transmission of infection to their infants through breast milk.

What STDs can be passed through breast milk?

If you have HIV, do not breastfeed. You can pass the virus to your baby. In countries like the United States where clean water is available, using a breastmilk substitute like formula is recommended. If you have chlamydia, gonorrhea, or HPV, you can breastfeed your baby.

What bacteria are passed through breast milk?

There are more than 200 strains of bacteria in breast milk, of which the most important are Lactobacilli, Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium.