Hepatitis B and C during pregnancy

Hepatitis B in pregnancy: Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Many people with hepatitis B, will have no signs of illness, but they might infect others. If you have hepatitis B, or are infected during pregnancy, you can pass the infection to your baby at birth. You will be offered a blood test for hepatitis B as part of your antenatal care. Babies who are at risk should be immunized at birth. This is 90–95% effective in preventing them from getting hepatitis B and developing long-term infection. The first dose is given within 24 hours of birth and two more doses are given at one and two months, with a booster dose at 12 months. A few babies may also need an injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin soon after birth. Your baby will be tested for hepatitis B infection at 12 months. Any babies who have become infected should be referred for specialist assessment and follow-up.

Hepatitis C in pregnancy     

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. Many people with hepatitis C may have no symptoms and be unaware that they are infected. If you have hepatitis C, you might pass the infection to your baby, although the risk is much lower than with hepatitis B. This cannot be prevented at present. Your baby can be tested for hepatitis C. If they are infected, they can be referred for specialist assessment.

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C causes

• Use inject able drugs and share equipment with an infected person.

You may have already been infected with hepatitis B if you were born or spent your childhood outside the UK in a country where hepatitis B is common. (You may have acquired the infection at birth.)

Hepatitis C causes  

• received a blood transfusion in the UK prior to September 1991, or blood products prior to 1986

• received medical or dental treatment in countries where hepatitis C is common and the infection is not controlled properly.

Parvovirus B19 infection and pregnancy   

Parvovirus B19 infection is common in children and causes a characteristic red rash on the face, so it is often called ‘slapped cheek disease’.

60% of women are immune to this infection. However, parvovirus B19 is very infectious and can be harmful to your baby. If you come into contact with someone who is infected you should talk to your doctor, who can check whether you are immune through a blood test. In most cases, the baby is not affected when a pregnant woman is infected with parvovirus.