Log in

View Full Version : Infections through breast feeding


firmbeliever
Aug 26, 2007, 02:43 AM
What are the possible infections or diseases a breast feeding mother could pass onto a child?
Infections like measles,oral infections,urine infections,yeast,colds,fevers etc, any possibility of such passing to the baby through the breast feeding?

I do not have an infection or a disease,but just out of curiosity would like to know the possibilities.

Thanks all

J_9
Aug 26, 2007, 05:18 AM
As you know breast milk is very healthy as it provided temporary immunities to diseases you have had, such as chickenpox. However, the diseases you can pass on would only be the diseases that are transmitted via bodily fluids such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. If your breast is not kept clean you can give baby oral thrush, a yeast infection.

If you have a UTI, though, you cannot give something like this to baby through breast milk.

firmbeliever
Aug 26, 2007, 07:17 AM
Thanks J9,
I thought it was like that but just needed to know from someone else other than my usual websites and books :).

By the way what is Oral thrush?

J_9
Aug 26, 2007, 07:19 AM
Simply put, oral thrush is a yeast infection in the mouth.

firmbeliever
Aug 26, 2007, 07:28 AM
How about worms in the stomach, I have read somewhere that children need worm tablets!
And how often does this worm medications need to be taken, is there an overdose of such medication?

Thanks

J_9
Aug 26, 2007, 07:58 AM
What kind of worms? Tapeworms?

I've never heard that children need worm tablets. Dogs and cats may need worm tablets but not children. Unless they get exposed to parasites such as pinworms and the like. But you have to have symptoms of that, and the parasitic infection must be diagnosed by a doctor.

firmbeliever
Aug 26, 2007, 08:31 AM
I think it is a culturally accepted thing in this region as I have heard of many kids(4-10 or so years) being given (I think something called zentec or zentel) to kill some sort of worm in the stomach.
Some parents even say the symptoms to be no appetite, sometimes itching around the anus etc.
Is that pinworm?

J_9
Aug 26, 2007, 08:34 AM
The itching around the anus does signify pinworm. Your region of the world is VERY different from mine. So it may very well be more common there.