Infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive are frequently infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Many of these newborns will become chronic carriers of HBV and will subsequently develop chronic liver disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that perinatal transmission can be prevented by immunization of the newborn. Recommendations for the management of infants at risk are presented.
PERINATAL TRANSMISSION OF HBV INFECTIONS
Perinatal infection of infants by mothers who are HBsAg positive is most likely to occur if mothers are also hepatitis Be antigen positive. About 90% of infants whose mothers are positive for both markers will become infected and most will become permanent carriers.1 Infants whose mothers are HBeAg negative or who have antibody to HBeAg are at lesser risk, but can still be infected.2
Infected infants usually will not become HBsAg positive until several weeks after birth. Although clinical jaundice or acute hepatitis are rare in infected infants, elevations in transaminase levels are frequent.3 It is estimated that about one in four infants who become chronic carriers following perinatal infection will develop cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma later in life. As they are persistent carriers, later in life they may transmit infection to other family members, to sexual contacts, or to others by transfusions or inoculation of their blood. Infection of female infants may eventually result in transmission of HBV to their own infants. Indeed, transmission from mother to infant is a major method of perpetuation of this virus in hyperendemic areas, eg, the Far East.
Co-infections and Comorbidities of Multiple Parasites and Hepatitis B Virus Infections in the Lowland Area of Western Ethiopia: Implications for Integrated Approaches
