Patient's question:
I've been pregnant for almost 3 months now. I went for a prenatal check-up and was carefully diagnosed with viral hepatitis. I didn't even know I had this disease before. I'm very worried now because I'm pregnant, and I don't know if it will harm my baby. I haven't felt anything different normally.Doctor's answer:
The main harm of pregnancy complicated with viral hepatitis is its high transmissibility to infants. At least 40% of cases are transmitted from mother to child. These individuals may develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.1. Intrauterine transmission: This may occur through the placenta or germ cells, accounting for approximately 5%.
2. Perinatal transmission: This primarily happens during labor, accounting for more than 80%. During labor, maternal blood, amniotic fluid, or vaginal secretions can enter the fetus through the skin, mucous membranes, or mouth.
3. Postpartum transmission: This can occur during breastfeeding, where maternal saliva or close contact may infect the infant.