Neonatal Hepatitis B

DEFINITION

Hepatitis is a viral infection of the liver.

CAUSE

Hepatitis B infection is a major cause of hepatitis infections in newborns. Infection is transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during delivery, which comes in contact with infectious secretions in the birth canal.

Hepatitis is usually not transmitted over the baby in the womb because the virus does not easily cross the placenta (afterbirth).

Transmission after birth usually rare, namely through exposure to blood, saliva, urine, feces, or breast milk of an infected mother.

SYMPTOMS

Most newborns who are infected have no symptoms, but will experience chronic hepatitis (chronic hepatitis) that usually only causes symptoms in childhood.

Many babies born to mothers with acute hepatitis B during pregnancy have lower birth weight, regardless of whether the baby is infected or not.

In rare cases, newborns who are infected may develop acute hepatitis B, which is usually mild and get better by itself. The symptoms that arise can be:

- Yellow (jaundice)

- Letargis

- Failed to thrive

- Abdominal distension

- Pale stools

- Increased levels of bilirubin

- Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)

- Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)

Hepatitis in newborns is a serious illness, 25% of the patients died.

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis is based on symptoms, physical examination and blood test results.

TREATMENT

Treatment is supportive, ie by giving the handling of the existing symptoms and also the provision of adequate nutrition. There is no therapy that can prevent a chronic infection after infection with hepatitis B.

Administration of drugs to help inhibit viral replication process may only be used after consultation with medical experts.

PREVENTION

Pregnant women need to be checked against the possibility of hepatitis B virus infection Babies are usually newly infected during birth, therefore, newborns whose mothers have hepatitis B should be given an injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin within 12 hours after birth, before infection occurs. This injection will protect the baby for a while. At the same time also be given hepatitis B vaccination for long-term protection.

REFERENCE

- C, Mary T. Neonatal Hepatitis B Virus Infection. The Merck Manual. 2013.