Treatment of HIV-positive breast-feeding mothers with antiretroviral therapy results in reduced viral loads in breast milk and anti-HIV drug levels sufficient to prevent HIV transmission, according to findings published in the 1st September edition of The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Although formula feeding is recommended for HIV-positive mothers in the developed world in order to avoid the risk of HIV transmission through breast milk, many mothers in developing countries breast-feed their babies due to the unavailability of milk formula or clean water, because of the elevated risk of disease and death in formula-fed children, or for cultural reasons. It is estimated that over 40% of all HIV transmissions from mothers to their children occur during breast-feeding
The findings from this study suggest that HIV-positive women may be able to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to their child by taking antiretrovirals during breast-feeding, at least where the drugs are available.
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