Fatal Hepatitis B in Early Infancy: The Importance of Identifying HBsAg-Positive Pregnant Women and Providing Immunoprophylaxis to Their Newborns

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-180
Author(s):  
Dietra Delaplane ◽  
Ram Yogev ◽  
Frank Crussi ◽  
Stanford T. Shulman

Infants born to women who are asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers frequently acquire hepatitis B virus infection in infancy. The spectrum of disease in such affected infants includes mild transient acute hepatitis B, chronic active hepatitis with or without cirrhosis, chronic persistent hepatitis, chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriage, and, rarely, fulminant fatal hepatitis B. Recently, the administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of infantile acquisition of hepatitis B virus; hepatitis B vaccine may also be preventive in this setting. Three young infants, aged 8 to 16 weeks, who died of acute fulminant hepatitis were studied. In each instance, the mother was found, retrospectively, to be asymptomatic but HBsAg positive. One of these mothers was hepatitis B e-antigen-negative but hepatitis B e-antibody positive. All three babies were HBsAg positive; two who were tested for hepatitis B core antibody were positive. These three fatalities serve to dramatize both the importance of HBs Ag screening of pregnant women, particularly those with demographic factors that place them at increased risk for HBsAg carriage, as well as the significance of effective immunoprophylaxis for hepatitis B in all offspring of women with HBsAg seropositivity.

2014 ◽  
Vol 165 (4) ◽  
pp. 773-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Veselsky ◽  
Tanja Y. Walker ◽  
Nancy Fenlon ◽  
Chong-Gee Teo ◽  
Trudy V. Murphy

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 1870-1876 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suda Tekin Koruk ◽  
Ayse Batirel ◽  
Sukran Kose ◽  
Sila Cetin Akhan ◽  
Bilgehan Aygen ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Godly Chessed ◽  
Kefas Hellamada Kwala ◽  
Aminu Innocent Asika ◽  
Sati Danjuma

Infection due to Hepatitis B virus is a serious public health problem worldwide, in spite of productive vaccine. Pregnant women infected with hepatitis B virus can transmit the infection to their fetuses and newborns. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at Specialist Hospital Yola. A total of three hundred and thirteen (313) pregnant women were randomly selected for this study. Hepatitis B status was determined by the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). A structured questionnaire was used for the data collection. Sera from volunteers were collected and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen. Seroprevalence was determined based on age group, educational level, occupation, marital status, religion and history of blood transfusion. The seroprevalence of HBsAg among consented antenatal attendees was 17(5.43%). The study found highest seroprevalence of HBsAg among the pregnant women in the age bracket 26-35 years 52.94%, 52.94% in women with primary school education, 41.18% among the unemployed, 94.12% among the married women, 70.59% among Muslim women, and 76.47% among women that had blood transfusion. The study also revealed that there is a significant relationship between HBsAg and (educational level, marital status) of the study participants (P < 0.05). The Seroprevalence of HBsAg among antenatal attendees at Specialist Hospital Yola, Nigeria, is on the high side. Therefore, early screening of pregnant women for hepatitis at antenatal clinic, would contribute greatly to the timely management of the disease and will prevent possible transmission to their neonates.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garba Umar Mustapha ◽  
Abdulrasul Ibrahim ◽  
Muhammad Shakir Balogun ◽  
Chukwuma David Umeokonkwo ◽  
Aisha Indo Mamman

Abstract Background: Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection and a major global health problem. It causes chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. WHO estimated 257 million people are living with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and in 2015 alone HBV resulted in to 887,000 deaths globally. We determined the prevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B virus infection among Antenatal Care (ANC) attendees in Gamawa Local Government Area, Bauchi State. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional, health facility-based study between March and April 2018. We used systematic random sampling technique to recruit 210 pregnant women aged 15-49 years. With a structured questionnaire, we interviewed the respondents and collected blood sample to test for hepatitis B surface antigen. We calculated frequencies, means, proportions, and tested for associations using Epi Info 7.2 and Microsoft Excel. Results: The mean age of respondents was 24.5 ± 6.0 years; 53.3% of whom were younger than 25 years. All were married, 87.1% had no formal education and up to 90.5% were employed. Overall, 6.7% tested positive for HBsAg; women aged ≥35 years had the highest prevalence (10.5%). None with tertiary education tested positive and women married before 18 years had 6.5% prevalence. Conclusions: The prevalence of HBsAg among pregnant women in Gamawa LGA was 6.7% which is quite lower than the national prevalence reported. We recommended improved surveillance of HBV infection and screening of women attending ANC. Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis B Surface antigen, Prevalence, Pregnancy, Health facilities, Hepatitis B


1978 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 302-305
Author(s):  
A Tzukert ◽  
S G Sandler

Sera from 576 healthy adults were tested for the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) to evaluate the role of routine dental care as a factor in the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Serological evidence of prior HBV infection, manifested by acquisition of anti-HBs, was detected in 97 (16.8%) individuals, and 6 (1.0%) were identified to be asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. The anticipated correlations of HBsAg and anti-HBs with age, country of birth, and socioeconomic status were observed in the study population. However, prevalences of both HBsAg and anti-HBs were inversely related to the lifetime total of dental care visits. These findings indicated that, in a region in which the HBsAg carrier state and hepatitis B are prevalent, routine dental care is not identified as an important factor in the spread of HBV infection. While the results do not exclude the obvious possibility that cross-infections with HBV may occur during dental care in specific situations, they indicate that this mode of infection is exceptional.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 602-605
Author(s):  
George Papaevangelou ◽  
Jay H. Hoofnagle

The courses of 18 children born to 13 chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier mothers were followed prospectively for serological and biochemical evidence of type B hepatitis. Three children developed transient HBsAg positivity accotupanied by the appearance of antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen. Two others had no detectable HBsAg but developed antibody to HBs Ag. These serological manifestations of hepatitis B virus infection occurred late—6 to 24 months after birth. None of the children had clinical evidence of hepatitis and none became chrotiic HBsAg carriers. The infrequency of transmission of infection, the mild course of disease, and the lack of persistence of HBsAg in these children probably reflected the low level of infectivity of the chronic carrier mothers and perhaps the healthy immunologic status of the children.


Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oren Shibolet ◽  
Yaron Ilan ◽  
Shmuel Gillis ◽  
Ayala Hubert ◽  
Daniel Shouval ◽  
...  

Abstract Viral reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers undergoing immunosuppressive therapy is well documented. To evaluate the role of lamivudine prophylaxis in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers treated with immunosuppression for nonhepatic disorders, we reviewed our experience between 1997 and 2000 at Hadassah University Hospital (Jerusalem, Israel). Controls were patients who were HBV carriers and who, between 1990 and 1995, were treated for hematological malignancies but were not treated with lamivudine. Eighteen HBsAg-positive patients were treated with immunosuppression. Fourteen were males, with a mean age of 48 years. Eleven patients had lymphoma; 2 had colonic adenocarcinoma; and 5 had cryoglobulinemia, enophthalmitis, vasculitis, malignant histocytosis, or ulcerative colitis. Fourteen patients were treated with chemotherapy, and 4 with prolonged high-dose corticosteroids. All patients were HBsAg-positive; 4 had hepatitis B e antigen, and 10 had HBV DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Lamivudine was administered to 13 patients in the treatment group 1 to 60 days (mean, 15 days) before immunosuppressive treatment and continued 0.5 to 24 months (mean, 7 months) following initiation of immunosuppression. Mean follow-up after lamivudine administration was 21 months. Three patients died of lymphoma complications and 10 (77%) survived. None of the patients had clinical or serological evidence of HBV reactivation during or after lamivudine prophylaxis. Of 6 patients who presented with liver function test disturbances, 5 improved during combined lamivudine and immunosuppression treatment. At the end of follow-up, HBV DNA became undetectable in 2 of 10 patients. In 2 patients, seroconversion from HBsAg to anti-HBs was observed. In contrast, 2 of 5 control patients had HBV reactivation. Lamivudine prophylaxis in HBsAg carriers receiving immunosuppressive therapy may prevent HBV reactivation and hepatic failure.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e031075
Author(s):  
Etheline Akazong W ◽  
Christopher Tume ◽  
Richard Njouom ◽  
Lawrence Ayong ◽  
Victor Fondoh ◽  
...  

IntroductionHepatitis B virus (HBV) is a bloodborne virus which can be transmitted via percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposure to infected body fluid. Healthcare workers (HCWs) who are continuously exposed to different body fluids are at an increased risk of contracting and transmitting this virus. It is thus important to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of HCWs towards HBV and the prevalence of HBV infection among them.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out between April and September 2017. Overall, 398 HCWs were recruited for this study. Knowledge on the route of HBV transmission and attitude towards HBV were evaluated using a well-structured questionnaire. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity was obtained using the Monolisa HBsAg ULTRA kit (Bio-Rad). Data were analysed using SPSS V.20.ResultsAmong the HCWs who participated in this study, 338 (84.9%) had heard of HBV, and 269 (67.6%) of them had adequate knowledge on the route of HBV transmission. Medical doctors were the most knowledgeable among biomedical workers and students (76.5%). The rate of stigma was highest among nurses (87, 38.8%). The prevalence of HBsAg positivity was high (42, 10.6%) given that there is an efficient and available vaccine. Overall, over 70% of HCWs invited to participate in this study responded.ConclusionKnowledge on the route of HBV transmission was fair, and the level of stigmatisation of HBV-infected patients and the prevalence of HBV infection were high in this study. A sensitisation campaign should be carried out to educate HCWs on HBV, thus reducing the level of stigma associated with HBV as well as the probability of contracting HBV as a nosocomial infection.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document