Generally adverse reactions of blood transfusion are (1) non immune mediated and (2) immune mediated. Fortunately the common adverse reactions that occurs after blood transfusion are mild and serious adverse reactions occur only rarely, if ever.

The blood transfusion may also be complicated by transmission of infectious agents, such as virus, bacteria, and other infectious agents. Fortunately the transmission of infectious agents is also rare, especially viral transmissions are becoming rarer due to pretransfusion screening of donor’s blood.

What are the non immune mediated adverse reactions that can occur?

The non immune mediated adverse reactions that can occur after transfusion of blood and blood components are volume overload, hypothermia (subnormal body temperature), electrolyte imbalance (mainly toxicity), iron overload, hypotensive reactions and immunomodulation etc.

You may have some questions and doubts regarding breast milk, such as how long (till how many months of age) a baby should be given breast milk and about “exclusive breast feeding”. Many of these questions and doubts are clarified in this article.

How Human milk is produced?

During pregnancy female body secrete a hormone known as prolactin, which causes stimulation of breast cells to produce milk. The more mother breastfeed the baby the more is the production of milk, which do not depend on the size of the breast. Another hormone ‘oxytocin’ causes contraction of the tiny muscle cells within the breasts and squeezes the milk down the milk ducts towards nipple. These stimulations (contraction of muscles to express milk) take place every time baby is put to the breasts or the baby suckles.