Published online May 1, 2008
PEDIATRICS Vol. 121 No. 5 May 2008, pp. 1046-1047 (doi:10.1542/peds.2008-0563)
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COMMENTARY

Breastfeeding and HIV Infection

William T. Shearer, MD, PhD

Department of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

The breastfeeding of infants born to HIV-infected mothers is a subject of continuing debate among developed and developing populations in the world. HIV-infected mothers in developed countries almost universally do not breastfeed their infants because of an ~15% risk of HIV infection being transmitted in breast milk, particularly the cell-rich colostrum fraction of breast milk.1 Avoidance of breastfeeding under these conditions is strongly endorsed by medical experts,2 and their advice is well received by developed societies, primarily out of concern for the health of the infant but also for secondary concerns over loss of income, fast-paced styles of living, inconvenience, and beauty.

In developing societies, however, in which breastfeeding among birthing mothers is almost always the norm, public health concerns over HIV transmission with breastfeeding by HIV-infected . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Address correspondence to William T. Shearer, MD, PhD, Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin St, MC FC330.01, Houston, TX 77030. E-mail: wtsheare@texaschildrenshospital.org