Question

8. A 3 weekold breastfed infant and her mother arrive at the clinic. The mother reports that she has been exposed to varicella zoster and is concerned that her baby's welfare after exposure. The mother also reports that she had chicken pox.as.a child. The explains to the mother that: A. Both infant and mother are at risk because the mother's immunity was acquired too long ago B. The infant is at risk because the baby has not been vaccinated against the disease C) Mother and baby are not at risk due to the antibodies she has passed to the infant via breast millk D. Th ere is nothing that can be done since the baby is too young to receive immunizations

Answer 1

Correct option: C.

Explanation: The new born infants receive passive immunity through mother. The maternal antibodies cross the placenta and enter the fetus to provide protection. These include IgG antibodies. These are circulated in blood. The infants after birth also receive antibodies through breast feeding of mother's milk. The breast milk produced immediately after birth is called colostrum. This milk is rich in secretory antibodies like IgA. The IgA antibodies penetrated the gut mucosa through breast milk protect against the intestinal pathogens.

According to the given situation the child was protected by mother passive immunity and the mother was protected by her existed immunity (She already had chickenpox in her childhood). So both the mother and baby are safe.