Pre-chewed food HIV risk

There is a possibility that HIV could be transmitted to children via pre-chewed food, researchers have found.

According to experts at St Jude Children's Hospital, infected blood in the saliva of the people who pre-chewed food can result in infants catching HIV.

There have been three cases recorded where this is the expected cause of HIV infection.

This has led the researchers to call for questions about pre-chewing food to be routinely asked by physicians in areas where many people suffer from the disease.

Aditya Gaur, the research leader, commented: "These three cases are persuasive enough that they justify cautioning HIV-positive caregivers against giving infants pre-chewed foods.

"Also, we hope increased awareness of this possible mode of transmission will bring more cases to light and more thorough studies, which can either substantiate or refute this transmission route."

The researchers have also reaffirmed that saliva does not carry HIV alone.

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