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      Risk factors for early childhood infection of human herpesvirus-8 in Zambian children: the role of early childhood feeding practices.

      Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology
      Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Cohort Studies, Family Characteristics, Feeding Behavior, Female, Herpesviridae Infections, blood, epidemiology, transmission, Herpesvirus 8, Human, isolation & purification, Humans, Logistic Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Saliva, chemistry, virology, Young Adult, Zambia

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          Abstract

          Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection in early childhood is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa with prevalence increasing throughout childhood. Specific routes of transmission have not been clearly delineated, though HHV-8 is present in high concentrations in saliva. To understand the horizontal transmission of HHV-8 within households to children, we enrolled for cross-sectional analysis, 251 households including 254 children, age two and under, in Lusaka, Zambia. For all children, plasma was screened for HHV-8 and HIV type I (HIV-1) and health and behavioral questionnaires were completed. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess independent factors for HHV-8 infection in children. Risk factors for HHV-8 infection included increasing number of HHV-8-positive household members [OR = 2.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.9-3.3; P < 0.01] and having a primary caregiver who tested the temperature of food with their tongue before feeding the child (OR = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.93-3.30; P = 0.01). Breastfeeding was protective against infection with HHV-8 for children (OR = 0.3; 95% CI, 0.16-0.72; P < 0.01). These results indicate that exposure to HHV-8 in the household increases risk for early childhood infection, with specific feeding behaviors likely playing a role in transmission. Interventions to protect children from infection should emphasize the possibility of infection through sharing of foods.

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