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Hepatitis B virus infection and its transmission in preschool children
G P Mathur1, K K Gandhi, S Mathur
1Department of Pediatrics, Ganesh Shanker Vidyarathi Memorial Medical College, Kanpur.
Insights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vertical transmission occurred in 36.4% of infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers. Screening preschool children revealed 2.5% HBsAg positivity, indicating a need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Hepatitis B research
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Public health virology
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant global health challenge.
- Vertical transmission from mother to child is a primary route of HBV infection.
- Preschool-aged children represent a key demographic for studying disease prevalence and transmission dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity in preschool children.
- To investigate the rate of vertical transmission of HBV from HBsAg-positive mothers to their infants.
- To assess the role of maternal jaundice during pregnancy and family history in HBV transmission.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 367 preschool children for HBsAg positivity.
- Monitoring infants born to 11 HBsAg-positive mothers for HBsAg positivity at 2.5-3 months.
- Screening of relatives of HBsAg-positive cases.
- Reviewing maternal medical history, including jaundice during pregnancy.
Main Results:
- HBsAg positivity was detected in 2.5% of the preschool children studied.
- Of 11 infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers, 4 (36.4%) developed HBsAg positivity, confirming vertical transmission.
- Infants born to HBsAg-negative mothers with a history of jaundice in the first trimester tested negative for HBsAg.
- All screened relatives of HBsAg-positive children were negative for HBsAg.
Conclusions:
- A significant rate of vertical transmission of Hepatitis B virus was observed.
- Preschool screening identified a notable prevalence of HBsAg positivity.
- Maternal HBsAg status is a critical factor in infant HBV infection; further research into transmission prevention is warranted.
Abstract:
In the present study, 2.5% of 367 preschool children has HBsAg positivity. Of 11 mothers who were HBsAg positive during the third trimester of pregnancy, 4 had babies (36.4%) who developed HBsAg positivity by 2.5-3 months of age (vertical transmission). Two babies born of HBsAg negative mothers, with history of jaundice during first trimester, were HBsAg negative. All the relatives of HBsAg positive cases screened were negative for HBsAg.