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Would Ingestion Of HIV Infected Blood By An Infant Lead To HIV Transmission?

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Posted on Mon, 17 Apr 2023
Question: Hello Doctor,

My 9 months old Baby Swallowed Fresh Blood two drops maximum directly from neighbours cut finger who is considered to be risk for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepattis C. Finger in babies mouth was 3 or 4 seconds maximum. I asked doctors here and the doctors said that stomach acid once swallowed will Kill the virus. But i read in the internet the lining of GI Tract for babies is not mature enough and they have open Gut for atleast 6 months.

1)Since my baby is 9 months old does her stomach acid produced will Kill virus? and is there any chance to pass the virus through lining of GI tract?
2) Suppose if the open gut matures at 6 months why did the HIV infected breast feed babies even get
HIV after 6 months that is after GUT maturity?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
No chance of virus transmission

Detailed Answer:

Hi

1. There is no risk of viral transmission and your doctors have been right. There is no chance of virus passing through the GI tract. The gastric acidity would take care of the virus.

2. The reason for this is that HIV may not be detectable in the blood due to incubation period or window period.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani
Pediatrician, Pulmonology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (3 hours later)
Dear Doctor,

Thanks for your reply.

Please answer my below specific questions

1) Does my 9 months baby has enough Stomach acids to destroy HIV & Hepatitis Virus?

2) I know which i read from Internet that Babies has open gut untill 6 months of age. After 6 months the babies guts mature. Is it possible for the babies GI tract to pass virus into blood stream even after 6 months of birth?

3) If Gut maturity occurs in 6 months, when HIV infected breast milk is feed for baby after 6 months of birth is transmission possible? once the gut matured.

4)Many Internet site says infection is possible if hiv milk is breast feed untill 2 years of birth. Is it true? How come this is possible because babies have enough stomach acids to kill the virus and they dont have open gut to pass the virus into blood stream

I read in the internet conflicting answers so im confused and got anxious.

Its all my Anxious Questions Doctor. Please forgive if there are any words in my questions feel you embarassing.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Transmission HIV through gut of baby

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

1. 9 month old baby's stomach acidity is enough for destruction of HIV and hepatitis-B virus.

2. Baby's GI tract will not pass on the virus to the blood stream.

3. In developing nations, the harm of not giving breast milk is more than giving it (even if it HIV positive mother) and hence WHO has advised to give breast milk in developing nations. But in the west, they do not follow this and refrain from breast feeding. But the transmission is extremely low. Even if the virus is passed, it will get destroyed in the stomach.

4. My above explanation holds good even for this question.

I understand your anxiety and there is no need to feel embarrassed as it my duty to explain to you.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani
Pediatrician, Pulmonology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (2 hours later)
Dear Doctor,

Thank you so much for your clear answers.

My last & final specific questions,

1) Upto which month from birth of babies GI Tract will pass pathogens into blood stream? said medically.
2) You said babies GI tract will not pass on to the blood stream but what i read says atleast till 6 months of age the babies will easy pass pathogens into blood stream through open gut.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (15 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Transmission pathogens through gut of baby

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

1. Babies of any age do not pass pathogenic organism as such in to blood stream.

2. You read that - "through open gut" which means - there should be an open wound or cut in the bowel which causes pathogens to pass into the blood stream. This can happen at any time of age. So I would say that what you said is correct, but the caveat here is - open gut - which is not there.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani
Pediatrician, Pulmonology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (39 minutes later)
Dear Doctor,

Open Gut as a medically is termed as Thin Lining of Gaestro Intestinal Tracts for infants which has spaces between Cells of Gaestro Intestinal Tracts which allows macro molecules and pathogens to mix with blood stream directly upto certain months after birth

It doesnt refers any cut or wound in the Gaestro Intestinal Tracts.

This is the reason why i asked whether my baby has chance when she swallowed blood one or two drops maximum has chance to get passed into blood stream through medical term "OPEN GUT".

Below is the link
https://XXXX.com/ages/YYYY/XXXX

In the above link i read in the sub heading BABY’s DIGESTIVE SYSTEM WILL HAVE TIME TO MATURE.

Im sorry doctor. Im not a medical profession and i know we people read wrong informations in the internet. But to know whether it is right or wrong information we seek help from experts like you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Transmission pathogens through gut of baby

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I understand, but my sincere suggestion is that you believe that your 9 month old baby is safe.

I think this is what you ultimately want and you need not go into the theoretical details of the human physiology which is depicted in the internet.

I have gone through the site and as it is not an authentic medical website; therefore, I am not able to comment on it. However, I can only assure you that your baby is safe.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani
Pediatrician, Pulmonology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (38 minutes later)
Dear Doctor, Thanks for your wonderful reply. 1). I understand that what i read about Open Gut is from unauthorised site. But in Paediatric Medicine nowhere it says about OPEN GUT? I mean Paediatric Medicine doesn't has Open Gut condition for Infants? What is said in that site is wrong and there is no proven Open Gut Conditions in Paediatric Medicine? 2) You said Stomach acid will mostly kills HIV or similar pathogens when ingested through mouth. Only small percentage of Infants get infected with HIV when HIV infected breast milk was feed. Could you please tell me what is the medical reason for an infant to get HIV if feed by HIV infected breast milk. Im sorry to ask you these type of questions. But Anxiety makes to think like a scientist. When a person becomes Anxious about an incident too many questions and doubts arises making not to get satisfied so easily. So once again sorry but please help me.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Suggestions

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

1. There is no condition called open gut condition.

2. The virus can get hosted in the intestinal mucosa and divide there and later on when the HIV viral load becomes so excess, then it might infect the whole body.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani
Pediatrician, Pulmonology
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (16 hours later)
Doctor Thanks for making me understand. I know medical science is not necessary for me but my anxiety is making me to ask questions like that. You said that Virus stays intestinal mucosa and enters into body. 1). One or two drop when goes inside will be destroyed by stomach acid and it will not get hosted in intestinal mucosa? 2).Is intestinal mucosa has direct connectivity with blood stream for Infants and Adults? 3). From Intestinal mucosa to blood stream is the property of mucosa will allow virus to connect with blood stream or it enters blood stream through cut or abrasions in intestinal mucosa.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Transmission pathogens through gut of baby

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

1. Yes.

2. No

3. It enters when the viral load is extremely high and also through cuts and abrasions.

Hope I have answered your query.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani
Pediatrician, Pulmonology
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Sumanth Amperayani

Pediatrician, Pulmonology

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 8339 Questions

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Would Ingestion Of HIV Infected Blood By An Infant Lead To HIV Transmission?

Brief Answer: No chance of virus transmission Detailed Answer: Hi 1. There is no risk of viral transmission and your doctors have been right. There is no chance of virus passing through the GI tract. The gastric acidity would take care of the virus. 2. The reason for this is that HIV may not be detectable in the blood due to incubation period or window period. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Thank you. Regards, Dr. Sumanth Amperayani Pediatrician, Pulmonology