Which hepatitis can be transmitted from mother to baby during birth?

Which hepatitis can be transmitted from mother to baby during birth?

• A. Hepatitis B
• B. Hepatitis A
• C. Hepatitis C
• D. Hepatitis D

Answer: (A)

Hepatitis B is the one that can be transmitted from mother to baby during birth. During delivery, the newborn can be exposed to the mother’s blood and other bodily fluids if the mother is infected with HBV, which is why newborns at risk receive immediate protection. The standard prevention is the hepatitis B vaccine given within 12 hours after birth, plus hepatitis B immunoglobulin for the baby when the mother is HBsAg positive or the status is unknown; this combination greatly reduces the chance of the baby becoming infected. Hepatitis A is usually spread by contaminated food or water, not via birth. Hepatitis C can be transmitted from mother to child but is less reliably prevented by vaccines (there is no vaccine for it). Hepatitis D occurs only with hepatitis B infection, but perinatal transmission is not the typical focus in birth-related prevention.

Hepatitis B is the one that can be transmitted from mother to baby during birth. During delivery, the newborn can be exposed to the mother’s blood and other bodily fluids if the mother is infected with HBV, which is why newborns at risk receive immediate protection. The standard prevention is the hepatitis B vaccine given within 12 hours after birth, plus hepatitis B immunoglobulin for the baby when the mother is HBsAg positive or the status is unknown; this combination greatly reduces the chance of the baby becoming infected.

Hepatitis A is usually spread by contaminated food or water, not via birth. Hepatitis C can be transmitted from mother to child but is less reliably prevented by vaccines (there is no vaccine for it). Hepatitis D occurs only with hepatitis B infection, but perinatal transmission is not the typical focus in birth-related prevention.