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In a report released Monday, US researchers say they have "compelling evidence" that three infants became infected with HIV, the virus that causes Aids, by eating food pre-chewed by their HIV-infected caregivers.
The mothers of two of the three children were known to be infected with HIV, but the mothers had not breastfed their babies and mother-to-child transmission of HIV had been ruled out. The mother of the third infant was not infected with HIV, but a great aunt who helped care for the child was.
All three children were fed food on multiple occasions that had been pre-chewed by a care provider infected with HIV, Dr Aditya H. Gaur from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, US and colleagues note in the latest issue of the journal Paediatrics.
The team ruled out other ways the babies could have become infected, and further investigations revealed that the primary source of HIV in two of the cases was likely bleeding in the mouth of the adult infected with HIV who pre-chewed the food.
Transmission route not reported
Although the practice of pre-chewing food for young children has been described in various parts of the world the extent of this practice is not well known, Gaur and colleagues admit.
Still, pre-chewed food is a route of HIV transmission "not previously reported" and one that has "important global implications," they emphasise.
Furthermore, Gaur and colleagues say the practice of feeding pre-chewed food to infants - which some caregivers may do during the weaning period - may also explain some of the reported cases of "late" HIV transmission in infants - cases so far attributed to breastfeeding.
Until the risk of HIV transmission via pre-chewed food is better understood, they recommend against the practice for anyone infected with HIV or at risk of HIV infection. - (Reuters Health, July 2009)
SOURCE: Pediatrics, August 2009.
Read more:
Mother-to-child transmission of HIV
HIV/Aids Centre
