Breast-feeding and HIV infection
Lancet 2(8555): 400-401
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0140-6736 PMID: 2886859 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)92424-xDocument Number: 353061
Two letters to the editor address the question of whether an association exists between breast feeding and transmission of HIV infection from HIV-positive mothers. The first letter reports data on 83 infants born to HIV-positive mothers, 11 of which were breast-fed for 1 week to 7 months; of these 2 were infected and had AIDS or AIDS-related complex. It is noted that breast feeding shortly after acquisition of HIV, as in the case of post-partum transfusions from a blood donor having AIDS, may be a special case carrying a higher risk of viral transmission. The second letter argues that, since hard clinical data that AIDS can be acquired through breast milk does not exist, the breast feeding policy formulated by the Centers for Disease Control that HIV-positive women should not breast feed appears less than responsible.(wz)