- Overview of Infections in Newborns
- Sepsis in Newborns
- Hospital-Acquired Infections in Newborns
- Pneumonia in Newborns
- Bacterial Meningitis in Newborns
- Listeriosis in Newborns
- Conjunctivitis in Newborns
- Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection in Newborns
- Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection in Newborns
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection in Newborns
- Rubella in Newborns
- Syphilis in Newborns
- Toxoplasmosis in Newborns
- Tuberculosis (TB) in Newborns
Hepatitis B virus infection causes inflammation of the liver.
Topic Resources
Newborns may become infected during delivery or rarely after birth.
Newborns who develop symptoms have jaundice, lethargy, and growth and weight faltering (formerly failure to thrive).
The diagnosis is typically based on blood tests.
The hepatitis B vaccine and sometimes hepatitis B immune globulin are given to newborns to protect them against the infection.The hepatitis B vaccine and sometimes hepatitis B immune globulin are given to newborns to protect them against the infection.
Children are at risk of liver problems later in life.
(See also Overview of Infections in Newborns and Overview of Hepatitis.)
Hepatitis B is a type of hepatitis virus newborns can contract and is a cause of great concern in newborns.
The infection occurs during labor or during delivery if the mother has the infection and the newborn comes in contact with blood or fluid in the vagina during labor and delivery. However, newborns may become infected after birth from other sources, such as the mother's blood, saliva, stool, urine, or milk.
Symptoms of HBV Infection in Newborns
Most newborns who have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have no symptoms at birth but continue to carry the infection in their bodies.
Many newborns born to women who have acute hepatitis B during pregnancy have a low birth weight, regardless of whether they are infected.
Infrequently, infected newborns develop acute hepatitis B, which is usually mild and goes away without treatment. They develop jaundice (a yellow color of the skin or whites of the eyes), lethargy, growth and weight faltering, a swollen abdomen, and clay-colored stools. Rarely, the infection is severe and fatal.
Chronic liver disease (such as chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis) may develop but usually does not cause symptoms during childhood.
Diagnosis of HBV Infection in Newborns
Blood tests
Ultrasound of the liver
Doctors do blood tests to look for the hepatitis B virus as well as antibodies to the virus. Doctors also do blood tests to determine whether a liver disease has developed (see Liver Blood Tests).
Ultrasonography is done to provide images of the liver.
Treatment of HBV Infection in Newborns
Treatment of symptoms and good nutrition
Vaccination
Doctors treat the problems caused by hepatitis B virus infection. It is especially important for affected newborns to receive good nutrition.
Hepatitis B vaccine is one of the routine vaccinations recommended for all children. All newborns, whether or not infected, are given the first dose of the hepatitis B virus vaccine before they are discharged from the hospital.
Prognosis for HBV Infection in Newborns
Although the long-term prognosis for chronic hepatitis B virus infection cannot be predicted, it is known that chronic infection early in life increases the risk of later liver disease including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease requiring transplantation, and liver cancer.
Prevention of HBV Infection in Newborns
Pregnant people should be tested for hepatitis B virus infection at an early prenatal visit. If testing does not occur at that time, pregnant people should be tested during labor upon arrival to a hospital or birthing center. Some pregnant people who have the infection are given antiviral medications during the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent transmitting the virus to their baby.
Newborns born to a mother with hepatitis B infection are given hepatitis B immune globulin(a preparation of antibodies against hepatitis B) and hepatitis B vaccine. One dose of each is given within 12 hours of birth. The next doses in the hepatitis B vaccine series are given according to the usual schedule.
