Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
|
|
The Associated Press - Wednesday August 25, 1999
The study is the first to show that mothers with the AIDS virus pass it along through their milk for as long as they breast feed. The risk is higher in the babies' early months, said the lead author, Dr. Paolo Miotti of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Past studies have reported breast-feeding transmission rates of 4 percent to 20 percent.
Breast-feeding is not recommended for women with HIV in the United States, where infant formula is plentiful. In developing countries, where formula is scarce, the World Health Organization recommends women be informed of their risk and make their own choice.
The study, reported in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 672 HIV-free newborns at a hospital. Forty-seven of the babies caught HIV from their mothers over two years of breast-feeding.
990825
AP990816
Copyright © 1999 - Associated Press. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the AP Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1999. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1999. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .