Facts on Hepatitis
B
• Hepatitis B is not a teratogen as it doesn't
cause congenital abnormalities but an infected
baby may develop life-long liver complications
such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.
• The newborn is more likely to acquire
hepatitis B and become a chronic carrier if the
mother acquires the infection at the later part
of her pregnancy.
• Though recovery is fast, one in ten persons
can become carriers for life. A carrier develops
long term liver damage.
• Sadly, infected persons show no symptoms
or at the most exhibit flu-like symptoms, vomiting,
fatigue, loss of appetite and stomach pain which
eventually go away without treatment. Specific
symptom includes jaundice which doesn't always
manifest.
• In most people acute hepatitis infection
lasts a few months. The virus leaves the body
but the antibodies remain.
• Women at highest risk including those
who work in the healthcare line or those who have
multiple partners should be vaccinated before
or even during pregnancy.
• Some countries are considered high-risk,
including Asia, Africa, Middle East and Far East.
Frequent travelers to these places should be vaccinated
• In some countries all hospital born newborns
are mandatorily inoculated before being discharged
• A preventive vaccine is widely available
and is safe, even during pregnancy
• Transmission occurs in several
ways:
1. From a carrier to her newborn during delivery
2. From an infected mother to her fetus during
pregnancy
3. Unprotected sexual intercourse with a carrier
(inclusive of contact with the contaminated saliva,
semen)
4. Living with a carrier
5. Direct contact with the blood of an infected
party e.g. drug users who share needles, equipment
used during tattooing, ear piercing etc, blood
transfusion.
