Can HIV be transmitted through breast milk?

Understanding HIV Transmission Through Breast Milk
The transmission of HIV through breast milk is a significant concern for mothers living with the virus and their infants. While the risk exists, it is influenced by several factors, including the mother’s health status and adherence to treatment.
Transmission Risk Factors
HIV can indeed be transmitted through breast milk, which poses a risk to infants who are breastfed by HIV-positive mothers. The likelihood of transmission is notably higher if the mother is newly infected or in the acute phase of HIV infection, as she may have a higher viral load, making her more infectious. Conversely, mothers who are on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) and maintain a low viral load are significantly less likely to transmit the virus through breastfeeding.
Research indicates that breastfeeding can contribute to nearly 50% of pediatric HIV infections globally, underscoring the importance of understanding this transmission route. The risk of transmission is also heightened in cases of “mixed feeding,” where infants receive both breast milk and other forms of nourishment, such as solid foods.
Role of Antiretroviral Therapy
Antiretroviral therapy plays a crucial role in mitigating the risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding. Studies have shown that when mothers adhere to ART, the risk of transmitting HIV to their infants through breast milk can be reduced to less than 1% over the course of a year. This highlights the effectiveness of ART in protecting infants from HIV, allowing many mothers to choose breastfeeding as a viable option while managing their health.
Public Health Recommendations
Public health guidelines emphasize the importance of ART for HIV-positive mothers who choose to breastfeed. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that mothers on effective ART can breastfeed safely, as long as they maintain adherence to their treatment. This approach balances the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding with the need to prevent HIV transmission.
In conclusion, while HIV can be transmitted through breast milk, the risk is significantly reduced with proper medical management and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. For mothers living with HIV, informed choices about infant feeding can help protect their children’s health while ensuring they receive the benefits of breastfeeding.

Can you pass an infection through breast milk?

Breast milk can occasionally transmit serious viral and bacterial infections to preterm infants. We present three cases of late-onset neonatal sepsis, including one that resulted in death, occurring in preterm infants. The likely source of the microorganisms in all three cases was expressed breast milk.

What are the chances of getting HIV through breast milk?

TRANSMISSION OF HIV THROUGH BREAST-FEEDING
Breast-feeding substantially increases the risk of HIV-1 transmission from mother to child; the rate of breast-feeding transmission is estimated to be at least 16% and prolonged breast-feeding nearly doubles the overall infant HIV-1 infection rate.

How quickly can HIV be transmitted?

Transmission can occur after one exposure. It is important to emphasize that a person could become infected from having unprotected sex once or a person could have unprotected sex many times and not become infected, regardless of how low or high the risk per exposure is.

What are the symptoms of HIV in babies?

Symptoms vary child-to-child depending on age, but may include:

• lymph nodes that remain enlarged for more than three months.
• lack of energy.
• weight loss.
• frequent and long-lasting fevers and sweats.
• persistent or frequent yeast infections (oral or vaginal)
• persistent skin rashes or flaky skin.

Are HIV-positive mothers allowed to breastfeed?

Mothers living with HIV should breastfeed for at least 12 months and may continue breastfeeding for up to 24 months or longer (similar to the general population) while being fully supported for ART adherence (see the WHO Consolidated guidelines on the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV …

When do signs of HIV start appearing?

Most people infected with HIV experience a short, flu-like illness that occurs 2-6 weeks after infection. After this, HIV may not cause any symptoms for several years. It’s estimated up to 80% of people who are infected with HIV experience this flu-like illness.

What four ways is HIV transmitted?

HIV is passed on through blood, semen, vaginal fluid, anal mucus and breast milk, if the person with HIV has a detectable viral load. It’s not passed on by spitting, sneezing or coughing.

Can HIV be passed through saliva?

There are no documented cases of HIV being transmitted through spitting as HIV is not transmitted through saliva. Deep, open-mouth kissing if both partners have sores or bleeding gums and blood from the HIV-positive partner gets into the bloodstream of the HIV-negative partner. HIV is not spread through saliva.

Can you have HIV for 20 years and not know?

Acute HIV infection (Stage 1) progresses over a few weeks to months to become chronic or asymptomatic HIV infection (Stage 2) (no symptoms). This stage can last 10 years or longer. During this period, the person might have no reason to suspect they have HIV, but they can spread the virus to others.

How soon can HIV be detected in babies?

Babies are usually tested 3 times: birth to 14 days; 1 to 2 months of age and; 3 to 6 months of age. These 3 tests are the preliminary (or first) tests. If babies test negative on 2 of the 3 preliminary tests, they should be given an HIV antibody test between 12-18 months.