[Hepatitis B infection of the newborn by its symptom-free mother]

A routine screening of the serum of pregnant women for the HBs antigen in the Aachn area revealed a frequency of 1,73% symptom free carrier mothers. This proportion is three times higher as the frequency of the HBs antigen in the normal population. The risk of a vertical transmission in children born to HBs antigen positive mothers is discussed as well as extended immunological diagnosis and prophylactic use of hyperimmunglobulin.