Medical Information

MEDICAL INFORMATION - Hepatitis B

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Introduction	A First Meeting	Allergies	Apgar Score	Bonding Issues
Bringing Your Child Home	Cerebral Palsy	Development Assessment	Ear Infections	Facilitate Attachment
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder	Gathering Medical Information	Growth Charts	Guidelines for Videotaping and Photographing	Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B	Hepatitis C	HIV	Immunizations	Intestional Parasites
Malnutrition	Rickets	Scabies	Shaken Baby Syndrome	Syphilis
Tuberculosis	Cytomegalovirus

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis is a viral infection of the liver. It is a systemic infection that attacks the liver causing inflammation. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, it is unable to effectively break down the waste products in the blood. There are many viral agents that can cause hepatitis. They are denoted by the letters A, B, C, D, E and G. The most common form of hepatitis is Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis symptoms can vary from being asymptomatic and self limiting to life threatening acute or chronic disease. Its onset can be abrupt. Symptoms can consist of fever, jaundice, malaise, anorexia, dark urine, light stools, nausea and abdominal discomfort.

Hepatitis B can be transmitted to a baby at birth from the mother's birth canal. It also can be transmitted to others by chronic carriers. Hepatitis B is especially common in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Children adopted from areas where Hepatitis B is more prevalent should be tested for it soon after they arrive home. Tests done in their country of origin may not be reliable as those performed in the U.S. Hepatitis B studies are specialized blood tests that include:

*Hepatitis S surface antigen (HbsAg) & Hepatitis B "e" antigen (HbeAg)
           The child is infected if either of these tests is positive.

*Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs)
           The child had Hepatitis B in the past or was vaccinated if this test             is positive.

*Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)
            The child had exposure to Hepatitis B if this is positive.

Usually Hepatitis B resolves over time, however in some children it remains and becomes a chronic infection. When a child is infected early in life he is more apt to develop a chronic infection. This later can develop into more advanced liver disease.

There is no specific cure for the disease but there are medications which, under a doctor's supervision, can suppress the activity. The child along with the immediate family members should be immunized.

A child that is healthy with a chronic Hepatitis B infection needs good medical follow up including information sharing from their pediatrician. Follow up should continue lifelong.

Cindy Sundman, RN, BSN