Transmission of hepatitis B to the fetus during pregnancy

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Trinh Thi Thanh Huyen - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

1. Symptoms of mother with hepatitis B

Fatigue: Pregnant women with hepatitis B will feel more tired than normal pregnant women. During this period, the woman should rest completely, do not work or work too hard, it will affect the health of both mother and fetus. Abdominal pain: Abdominal pain in pregnant women with hepatitis B will occur in waves, sometimes with severe muscle pain. Anorexia : This is a common symptom in all hepatitis B cases, but in pregnant women infected with hepatitis B, despite anorexia, it is still necessary to supplement with necessary nutrients for both the fetus and the fetus. mother to ensure the stable health of mother and baby. Nausea: A symptom that most pregnant women experience. Although pregnant women with hepatitis B should pay attention to consult a specialist doctor to monitor the specific state of the disease at what stage and have good treatment options for both the baby and the baby. mom.

Jaundice: When a pregnant woman's skin turns yellow, it shows that hepatitis is in a dangerous stage. Therefore, pregnant women need to visit reliable medical facilities for the best treatment for both the baby and the mother.

2. The route of hepatitis B infection to the fetus

In addition to being transmitted through blood transfusion, sexual contact, hepatitis B also has a risk of transmitting hepatitis B from mother to child. When a pregnant woman is infected with the hepatitis B virus, she can transmit hepatitis B to her unborn baby.
In the first 3 months of pregnancy, the rate of hepatitis B infection from mother to baby is 1%, if the mother is infected with hepatitis B in the second 3 months of pregnancy, the rate of infection to the baby is 10% and will increase the rate of infection to the baby to 60-70% if the mother is infected in the last 3 months of pregnancy.
The risk of transmitting hepatitis B to the fetus can be up to 90% if protection is not taken immediately after birth, 50% of these babies will develop chronic hepatitis and are at risk of developing cirrhosis in adulthood Fort.
Maternal hepatitis B infection before pregnancy can occur during pregnancy. Pregnancy is not a risk factor for worsening hepatitis B in the mother, but on the contrary, the virus does not adversely affect the pregnancy process as well as the fetus.
The pregnancy is progressing normally, the fetus is developing well and there is no risk of malformations. However, if the mother has a severe hepatitis B infection in stage III of pregnancy, there is a potential risk of preterm birth.

3. Prevention of hepatitis B infection during pregnancy

In the case of hepatitis B infection to a baby during birth, 90% of the baby will be chronically infected with the virus and at risk of developing the disease in adulthood. Therefore, there is a requirement to prevent HIV infection for husband and children.
In order for the prevention of hepatitis B virus infection for the fetus to be effective and to coordinate to consider whether the mother's case needs immediate treatment, the husband and wife should go to a hospital with a liver specialist for examination and testing. , specific advice. In addition, to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, the baby must be vaccinated after birth with: immune antibodies (HBIG) an antibiotic to fight the severe symptoms of hepatitis B and the vaccine. Please prevent hepatitis B virus. If these two drugs are given to a baby within 12 hours of birth, the newborn has an over 90% chance of being protected from hepatitis B for life. You need to make sure your baby gets the remaining 2-3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine on schedule. All shots must be completed for the infant to be adequately protected against hepatitis B. It is also important that infants born to HBV-positive mothers have a post-vaccination serologic test at 9 -12 months old to confirm baby is protected against HBV and not infected. On the other hand, in order to limit the possibility of hepatitis B infection in the fetus, it is also important to reduce the concentration of the virus in the mother. Pregnant women should avoid alcohol or other stimulant drinks. Infected women can be vaccinated against hepatitis B before or during pregnancy so that hepatitis B does not have a chance to attack a healthy person's body. Finally, pregnant women should go to a hepatitis B specialist facility for specific advice and should give birth in a health facility that has all the above-mentioned vaccines. In addition to vaccination against hepatitis B virus, it is necessary to avoid hepatitis B infection such as:
When injecting, injecting, shaving, brushing teeth... must be used separately. Ensure safe sex, avoid exchanging bodily fluids during oral, vaginal or anal sex. Immediately bandage cuts, bleeding wounds or bruises to avoid direct contact with blood. Never touch anyone's blood or bodily fluids without using protective gear between you and a substance that may have been contaminated with the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis B causes many dangerous complications. and negatively affect the health of the fetus. Therefore, before having a baby, you should have a liver screening test to make sure you have hepatitis B. If yes, you should treat the disease completely before becoming pregnant.
Vinmec International General Hospital is currently providing liver screening packages such as:
Hepatobiliary screening package - comprehensive Hepatobiliary screening package - advanced Hepatobiliary screening package - Master standard doctor. Trinh Thi Thanh Huyen is highly trained in obstetric ultrasound, laparoscopic surgery and hysteroscopy at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology and has more than 13 years of experience working at Hai Phong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital.
Currently, the doctor is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

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