Human milk as a potential vehicle for viral disease in the newborn

Abstract

Breastfeeding is seen as the best method of infant nutrition due to its' benefits regarding maternal and infant health outcomes. It is generally recommended that a mother should breastfeed exclusively for at least six months. Albeit ideal, this is not always possible, sometimes owing to a maternal disease. The purpose of this study was to understand the transmission of several maternal viral infections to breastfed infants and evaluate the contraindication of breastfeeding in some of them. In order to produce this narrative review, an extensive literature search was conducted on PubMed. Additionally, the bibliography of the selected articles was reviewed to identify further pertinent studies, which were then included. The following maternal infections were found to represent a contraindication to breastfeeding: human immunodeficiency virus, human T-lymphotropic virus and ebola virus. In specific circumstances, herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus and hepatitis C virus can also contraindicate breastfeeding. To date, for the remaining viruses reviewed in this paper, no evidence exists that warrants contraindication of breastfeeding. Diverse motives could be the basis for contraindication of breastfeeding in the previously mentioned viruses. Some were believed to be transmitted through breastfeeding, and consequently constituted unequivocal contraindications to this practice, while others were only a source of contraindication in specific high-risk circumstances. Health professionals that deal with pregnant and puerperal women, such as obstetricians, pediatricians or family medicine doctors, must be aware of these particularities in the management of breastfeeding women in order to better take care of their patients and their respective infants.