Health Information

In health case have woman suffering from hepatitis and is currently pregnant with the first 7 months gestation. She worried that her children would be infected. How can make it not happen? And should she give birth the normal way or caesar?

According to Dr. Riyana Kadarsari SpOG of RSB Jewels Husada Facility, Pamulang, South Tangerang, that the principle of babies born to mothers infected with hepatitis will be the same virus, depending on the type of hepatitis that affects the mother, college essays.

Sorts and Modes of Transmission
Hepatitis A and E, including a group of acute viral hepatitis. Generally transmitted through fecal-oral transmission (feces and contaminated food), on sanitation and poor hygiene. The symptoms of yellow fever and symptoms followed by the eyes and skin. Can usually be cured by itself, but in severe conditions can cause liver failure resulting in death.

Transmission to the fetus almost nothing, because there are antibodies that enter the placenta to protect the fetus from infection. So, there is no specific therapy when the patient is pregnant. But if pregnant women were infected during the three trimesters can lead to complications such as preterm labor, severe infection in the fetus that can result in death. For that reason, pregnant women should avoid infection by maintaining a clean and sanitary hygiene, avoid traveling to endemic areas. Some experts recommend to do the immunization with hepatitis A or immunogloblin administration on maternal and fetal infection within 48 hours.

Hepatitis viruses B, C and G is a group of chronic viral hepatitis. Among this group is at most hepatitis B. Transmitted through secretions (fluids) of the body, blood. While on an infected pregnant woman can infect her fetus through the birth process or the amniocentesis procedure. And if the fetus is infected with hepatitis B and did not receive prophylaxis (prevention) immunoglobulin, 90 percent will become chronic hepatitis B patients with complications of long-term risk of death from liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular cancer by 15-25 percent.

In pregnant woman a laboratory report showing the results of HBsAg seropositivity if not given preventative, amounting to 10-20 per cent will transmit the infection to her fetus. While the laboratory report on maternal HBsAg and HBeAg seropositivity show, 90 percent will pass the infection to her fetus. Transmission in the first trimester by 10 percent and 80-90 percent occur in the third trimester.

While in patients with hepatitis C infection associated with the amount of virus (viral load >100,000 copies) and whether the mother has HIV or not. Range 4-7 percent rate of transmission from mother to fetus in the event of viremia (virus in the blood). Hepatitis D is often associated with the occurrence of hepatitis B, a person gets infected with hepatitis D if he is infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis G while often found in people with hepatitis C.

Birth normal or Caesar?
According to ACOG (American College Obstetry and Gynecology) and CDC (Centre for Disease Control and prevention), cesarean delivery would reduce the movement of the virus from mother to fetus. However this is still debated. To reduce the rate of infection from mother to fetus should be given immune globulin prophylaxis.

Prevention Efforts
We recommend that pregnant women with hepatitis B, get vaccinated during pregnancy, stop drinking alcohol and drugs that can damage the liver function, did not do donor, does not share personal items that can transmit such as toothbrushes, razors, informing health workers, pediatricians, gynecologist that she is a carrier of hepatitis B virus, make sure their babies receive hepatitis B vaccination at birth, age one month and six months of age and the provision of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HB-IG) at the time of birth can not be longer than 12 hours. Conduct periodic checks liver function and discuss the risk of transmission to spouses and other family. And if the baby has received immune globulin should be given breast milk. (Source: Mom & Kiddie)

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