HIV "cuts" Breast feeding

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True contraindications to breastfeeding are unseen. The vast majority of mothers will not come across a situation where breastfeeding becomes unsafe



- the instances where breastfeeding may be harmful to the infant are:

If the mother-
1. has HIV
2. has untreated pulmonary tuberculosis
3. is taking certain medications that suppress the immune system
4. is taking certain medications which may be passed onto the child through the milk. The vast majority of medications are compatible with breastfeeding
5.has had unusually excessive exposure to heavy metals such as mercury
6. uses potentially harmful substances such as cocaine, heroin and amphetamines.

Determining the infant's risk from exposure to an unsafe substance in breastmilk depends on the total quantity of the exposure which in turn depends on both
a) the concentration of the substance secreted in breastmilk and
b) the total volume of breast milk consumed.

Breastfeeding is contraindicated in mothers with active, untreated tuberculosis infection.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics 2006 Redbook:
Women with tuberculosis who have been treated appropriately for 2 or more weeks and who are not considered contagious may breastfeed. Women with tuberculosis disease suspected of being contagious should refrain from breastfeeding or any other close contact with the infant because of potential transmission through respiratory tract droplets . Mycobacterium tuberculosis rarely causes mastitis or a breast abscess, but if a breast abscess caused by M tuberculosis is present, breastfeeding should be discontinued until the mother no longer is contagious.

In many areas of the world, interrupting breastfeeding poses even greater risk to the infant (e.g. from unsafe drinking water used to mix breastmilk substitutes). In such cases continued breastfeeding is the safer alternative. In areas where BCG vaccination is the standard of care, The WHO provides treatment recommendations and advises mothers to continue breastfeeding. TB may be congenitally acquired, or perinatally acquired through airborne droplet spread.This true for countries like India.

Infants with classic galactosemia cannot consume lactose and therefore cannot consume breastmilk.

Ref:O.P.Ghai,PSM,Wikipedia,Various other books and Journals,Nelson