Patient's question:
NoDoctor's answer:
Children born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B () are not necessarily infected with hepatitis B.Recommendations:
The modes of mother-to-child transmission include:
(1) Placental transmission: Rare, and vaccination cannot prevent this mode of transmission.
(2) Intrapartum transmission: The majority of cases occur during delivery due to minor tears in the placenta, allowing maternal blood to enter the fetal bloodstream, or through fetal inhalation of amniotic fluid, or contact with maternal vaginal secretions.
(3) Postpartum transmission: Exposure to maternal saliva and breastfeeding. Both saliva and breast milk have been found to contain HBsAg and HBeAg particles (hepatitis B virus). While the possibility of breast milk transmission is debated, mothers who are HBsAg and HBeAg double-positive should avoid breastfeeding.
Prevention Methods:
- Pregnant women should undergo comprehensive health examinations to ensure their own health. Healthy mothers are recommended to receive the hepatitis B vaccine to protect themselves from hepatitis B infection.
- Newborns born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B () should ideally receive combined vaccination methods to minimize the risk of hepatitis B infection.
- Precautions: Avoid breastfeeding, kissing the child, or feeding the baby orally to prevent transmission. Minimize close physical contact with the baby, regularly disinfect personal hygiene items and utensils, and ensure absolute separation of the baby’s belongings.
- Important Note: Do not assume that vaccination alone guarantees immunity. After vaccination, the baby’s immune system is still weak, and improper care may still lead to infection.
Thus, children born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B are not necessarily infected with the virus.