Are there recommendations about breastfeeding for mothers with leprosy?

Leprosy Mailing List – June 3^rd, 2011

Ref.:   Are there recommendations about breastfeeding for mothers with leprosy?

From: K Al Aboud, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

---

Dear Dr Noto,

I think that babies should not be separated from mothers and it is sufficient that mothers with leprosy get the anti-leprosy treatment.  However, what is the risk of transmission of leprosy from untreated mother to baby?  I suppose that the leprosy bacilli can pass through the milk or via the intimate contact (and hence, respiratory route) from mother to baby.  Is there a scientific base for advising the mother with leprosy, not to breast fed their babies because of the risk of transmission of leprosy?

There are some aspects to be mentioned for example: secretion of leprosy medications in the breast, nutritional deficiency in the babies if not breast fed, precipitation of reaction in this physiological period.  I can find one reference in the MEDLINE documenting this.  Duncan ME, Melsom R, Pearson JM, Menzel S,Barnetson RS. A clinical and immunological study of four babies of mothers with lepromatous leprosy, two of whom developed leprosy in infancy.  Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis 1983 Mar 51(1):7-17.

However, I wish to hear from our LML Panel, if there is a current recommendation regarding this matter by scientific societies or organization like WHO.

With respect and regards,

Dr Khalid Al Aboud
Consultant Dermatologist, King Faisal Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.amoa65(at)hotmail.com
alaboudkhalid(at)yahoo.ca