Patient's question:
A five-month-old baby who has received two doses of the hepatitis B vaccine may be infected with hepatitis B after being kissed by a stranger on the face, mouth corners, and lips. The baby has already received two doses of the hepatitis B vaccine. The baby was kissed by a young girl at the supermarket counter. Will the baby be infected with hepatitis B? I am very regretful that I let a stranger hold my baby. I originally wanted to make the child braver, but I didn't expect the other person to kiss my baby. I am very worried. Am I overthinking?Doctor's answer:
Because of the widespread nature of hepatitis B, and the fact that the hepatitis B virus has a high resistance to the external environment, it can remain infectious on surfaces at room temperature for about half a year. Therefore, if a child has normal social interactions and activities, they are almost exposed to the hepatitis B virus every day. However, only a small number of people actually get infected with the hepatitis B virus, which indicates that hepatitis B is not as easily transmitted as one might think. Moreover, since most children have already received two doses of the vaccine, many have developed antibodies.Advice: There is absolutely no need to worry about contracting hepatitis B from this. The person in question may not even have hepatitis B. Even if they do, the main route of transmission for hepatitis B is not through the mouth. Even if the child has oral injuries and the person does have hepatitis B, it would be difficult to contract the virus due to vaccination. Even if antibodies have not yet developed, there is a natural recovery possibility if infected with the hepatitis B virus, and it does not necessarily mean lifelong carriage of the virus.
Doctor's inquiry: