| Hepatitis B
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. This can be caused by virus infections and the most serious type is hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy or at birth. The baby will probably not be ill, but often becomes a carrier of the virus and may go on to suffer from serious liver disease later in life. This can now be prevented. Pregnant women are screened for the virus using a blood test. Babies born to infected mothers are immunised within two days after they’re born with a three-dose course of hepatitis B vaccine. This provides long-lasting protection and prevents babies from becoming carriers. It’s important that your child is given all three doses. The infection can be passed on through breastfeeding so it is important that a breastfed baby is immunised. |
