Will a Child Born to a Mother with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Be Infected Too?

Question

Will a child born to a mother with hepatitis B surface antigen be infected with hepatitis B too?

Answer

A child born to a mother with hepatitis B surface antigen does not necessarily have to contract hepatitis B. Maternal-infant transmission can occur through several routes, including transplacental transmission, perinatal transmission, and postpartum transmission. A healthy mother can protect herself through hepatitis B vaccination, while a child of a mother with hepatitis B surface antigen should receive combined vaccination to reduce the risk of infection. Additionally, for caution’s sake, breastfeeding should be avoided, and close contact with the baby should be minimized. Personal items and utensils should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and strict isolation from baby items should be maintained. Even if the baby has been vaccinated against hepatitis B, attention must be paid to maintaining their immunity to avoid infection. Therefore, the child born may not have hepatitis B.