The breast milk of HIV infected women contains HIV virus particles, therefore children can become infected through breastfeeding. We develop a mathematical epidemiological model of HIV infection in infants, infected… Click to show full abstract
The breast milk of HIV infected women contains HIV virus particles, therefore children can become infected through breastfeeding. We develop a mathematical epidemiological model of HIV infection in infants, infected children and infected women that represents infection of an infant/child as a series of exposures, by incorporating within-host virus dynamics in the individuals exposed to the virus through breastfeeding. We show that repeated exposures of the infant/child via breastfeeding can cause bi-stability dynamics and, subsequently, infection persistence even when the epidemiological basic reproduction number R0 is less than unity. This feature of the model, due to a backward bifurcation, gives new insight into the control mechanisms of HIV disease through breastfeeding.
               
Click one of the above tabs to view related content.