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Exposure to Hepatitis B in Pregnancy
It is very difficult for a pregnant mother to know if and when she has been exposed to Hepatitis B, unless there is a specific risk factor. Known risk factors include injecting drugs (with sharing of needles) and unprotected sexual encounters with multiple partners.
Blood transfusion is no longer regarded as a risk factor, because all blood and blood products are screened for viral infections, including Hepatitis.
It has been the practice for many years in the United States to screen all pregnant mothers for Hepatitis B unless a mother decides to opt out. However, it remains a serious public health problem. An estimated 24 thousand babies are born to mothers with hepatitis B in the United States each year. Up to 40% of all Hepatitis B virus chronic infection result from a transmission from mother to infant. All infants are therefore vaccinated against hepatitis B.
In the UK, every expectant mother is offered the test at booking. This service has been available nationwide since the spring of 2000.
Those identified to be carrying the infection can then get the required medical attention
by a specialist during pregnancy. Even more important, the baby has protective passive-
Symptoms of primary Hepatitis B infection
This is where the difficulty arises. For the majority of patients, on contracting the infection, it appears like mild flu and an affected person may have no symptoms at all.
There may be a little nausea and vomiting, occasionally with abdominal pain -
Jaundice in Hepatitis B
Contrary to popular belief, jaundice is not that common on contracting Hepatitis
B. Probably up to half of patients with the acute infection will have no jaundice
at all. Even those who have jaundice may have mild symptoms that can easily be missed.
This is compounded by the fact that the symptoms are non-
Long term prospects after Hepatitis B infection
Hepatitis B is a serious infection. However, it is comforting to know that nine out of ten people infected with Hepatitis B will be clear of the infection within a few months. That is 90%. These people will then have immunity against this infection for the rest of their lives.
The remaining 10%, however, carry the infection for life and could pass it on to others, including a baby in the womb.
Risk to the baby from a carrier of Hepatitis B infection
When a woman who is a Hepatitis B carrier conceives, the baby is at risk of contracting the infection. In fact babies, do not do nearly as well from the infection (compared to adults) and the majority of those who have the infection passed on by their mothers go on to develop chronic hepatitis. This may lead to chronic liver failure or even cancer of the liver.