Can my baby acquire hand, foot, and mouth disease from me through breastfeeding?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have foot and mouth disease, and I breastfeed my baby. Before diagnosis, until yesterday, I had breastfed my baby. Will she get the infection? How can I protect my baby? Can I breastfeed her in the first place?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

This virus is highly contagious and is spread from person to person by direct contact with secretions from the nose, mouth, or stool. This disease appears suddenly and will go away by itself without any treatment (self-limited), usually lasting 7 to 10 days. However, you are unlikely to be passing the virus to your child. Your breast milk does not contain the virus. Instead, it only has the antibodies for this disease. Toxin transmitted through breast milk has not been reported in an infant. Also, some studies have reported exclusive breastfeeding to have a protective effect against hand and foot-mouth disease. If you have soreness in the breast due to the condition, it is best to avoid breastfeeding for the time being and consult a local pediatrician for feeding choices. As long as the skin of the breast is not involved, no risk for transmission exists through breast milk.