Parent-to-child transmission of hepatitis B

Children of hepatitis B virus-infected individuals may acquire the hepatitis B virus susceptibility gene from their parents. They may share some of their parents’ inherited immunodeficiencies in resisting hepatitis B virus infection, and thus close contact in the family after birth is the main route of father-to-child transmission of hepatitis B. However, the chances of a father transmitting the hepatitis B virus to his child are much smaller than those of a mother, about 26% before vaccine use. Hepatitis B is completely preventable by vaccinating newborns, so father-to-child transmission is no longer a major problem for hepatitis B transmission today. However, newborns should always be tested for hepatitis B antibodies after completing the full course (3 doses) of hepatitis B vaccination. This is because a small number of infants do not produce enough hepatitis B antibodies after 3 doses of vaccine, and such children may still be infected with the hepatitis B virus. In addition, children should be tested again for hepatitis B antibodies when they reach the age of 3-6 years and when they become adults. If the titer of the antibody drops to less than 10 milliunits/mL, a booster immunization with hepatitis B vaccine should be carried out to stimulate the body to produce immunity against the hepatitis B virus again. As long as the child receives the hepatitis B vaccine on time and produces sufficient amount of hepatitis B surface antibody, the father of hepatitis B can have normal contact and intimacy with his child and fulfill his fatherly responsibility, and the child will not be infected with hepatitis B.