>I  had a call today from a mom seeking information about the affect of
>reently diagnosed Epstein-Barr both on her unborn baby (she is due in
>June) and on transmission after delivery.

Victoria,

Page 582-583 in the newest edition of Lawrence says:

"E-B Virus is a common infection...and has been associated with chronic
fatigue syndrome, Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.  Because
EBV is one of the human herpes viruses, concern has been raised about
lifelong latent infection and the potential risk of infection to the fetus
and neonate by the mother.  Primary EBV infection during pregnancy is
unusual because few pregnant women are susceptible.  Although abortion,
premature birth and congenital infection from EBV are suspected, no distinct
group of anomalies is linked to EBV infection in the fetus or neonate."

Snip several paragraph about symptoms...

"It also remains unknown to what degree breast milk could be a source of
early EBV infection compared with other sources of EBV infection in the
infant's environment.  Similar to the situation of postnatal transmission of
CMV in immunocompetent infants, clinically significant illness rarely is
associated with primary EBV infection in infants.  More data concerning the
pathogenesis of EBV-associated tumors should be obtained before proscribing
against breastfeeding is warranted, especially in areas where these tumors
are common but the protective benefits of breastfeeding are high.  In area
where Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma are uncommon, EBV
infection in the mother or infant is not a contradiction to breastfeeding."

Kathy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kathy Koch, BSEd, IBCLC
Great Mills, MD
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/pakoch (designed by my 8 year old!)

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