New research suggests that babies can potentially contract HIV from food HIV-positive mothers pre-chew for them, reports The New York Times (nytimes.com, 2/7). Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on February 6 that out of the thousands of documented HIV infections in U.S. babies in the past 15 years, three cases were determined to have been caused by pre-chewed food.
Pre-chewing food is a practice that occurs in the United States and abroad. The research, presented at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, suggests that the transmission of HIV through this practice may be a problem particularly in developing countries where commercial baby foods and blenders aren’t available, and dental care may be lacking.
The Times reports that though HIV is present in saliva, it is usually in amounts too small to be transmitted. However, if the chewers in the CDC findings had open mouth sores or inflammations, they may have passed the virus through the food to the infants, who in turn may have had cuts in their mouths or other common teething conditions.
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comments 1 - 3 (of 3 total)
brownskinlatin, Los Angeles, 2008-02-12 15:22:35
I found this information to be a surprise, but i do agree with pozgirl, it must be sent out with caution, we tend to forget how much fear it could bring to society at large, if information is sent out with any lack of facts.
Pozgirl, , 2008-02-12 12:44:48
How can they write what they don't know? And this forum should be correcting that assumption not posting it. Next thing will be it is also passed through kissing.
G., , 2008-02-10 13:06:13
This is irresponsible journalism.
HIV is not being spread by pre-chewed food. It is being spread by blood to blood contact in a minute number of cases where there is blood in the mother's mouth that is then tranfered to the child who has an opening in its mouth.
This has always been know.
3 cases out of thousands?
I would say it is safer than riding in a car.
"I'm HIV positive and diabetic (as well as have high cholesterol) and some of my meds specify taking them with 'high fat foods' which I have to do twice a day. I've eaten as healthy as possible, but when it comes to high fat foods, I am in a quandary...about what to eat sometimes..."
