Doctor, Level I Specialist Do Dinh Dat, from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology Center at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, states that if a pregnant woman is infected with the hepatitis B virus, the transmission rate to the fetus gradually increases from conception to birth. In the first trimester, the transmission rate is 10%, rising to 90% in the third trimester. If an infected pregnant woman does not adhere to treatment, the rate of infants contracting hepatitis B significantly increases compared to those born to mothers who receive full management and care, reaching approximately 70-90% versus 10-50%.

Hepatitis B spreads through direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. Transmission also occurs via unscreened blood donations, sharing needles, or personal items like toothbrushes. The disease can also be transmitted through unsafe sexual contact, including male same-sex relations, and from mother to child during childbirth.

To proactively protect future generations, Doctor Dat advises couples to undergo pre-marital health checks or screenings before planning to have children. It is crucial to never share needles or skin-piercing tools, practice safe sex, and avoid sharing personal items such as nail clippers, toothbrushes, or underwear.

All pregnant women should be screened for hepatitis B and other infectious diseases during their first prenatal visit. For cases with a high viral load, doctors prescribe prophylactic antiviral treatment in the third trimester of pregnancy to reduce the viral count in the blood, thereby minimizing the risk of mother-to-child transmission.

According to Doctor, Level II Specialist Pham Le My Hanh, Head of the Neonatology Department, infants born to mothers with hepatitis B require post-birth vaccination combined with anti-HBV antibody injections. Infants should have their antibodies checked after completing the final vaccine dose to ensure immunity has developed. Infants born to mothers not infected with hepatitis B should still receive the hepatitis B vaccine, with the first dose administered within 24 hours of birth. Children need to complete all subsequent doses according to the immunization schedule to establish long-term immunity.

Thanks to prenatal screening, prophylactic treatment, and timely vaccination, the risk of mother-to-child hepatitis B transmission can be controlled, ensuring a healthy start to life, Doctor Hanh notes.

Doctor Dat (right) performs a cesarean section for a pregnant woman with hepatitis B. *Photo: Tue Diem*

Hepatitis B is one of the most dangerous and common infectious diseases in Vietnam. An estimated 7,6 million Vietnamese people are infected with the hepatitis B virus, yet only over 1,6 million have been diagnosed, and approximately 45.000 are receiving treatment. Vietnam is also among the top 10 countries globally with the highest number of hepatitis B and C infections. Currently, about 40 million Vietnamese lack immunity or have not been vaccinated against hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B is categorized into two forms: acute and chronic. In the acute form, within six months of viral infection, patients may experience symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, jaundice, yellow eyes, epigastric pain, and muscle and joint aches. Conversely, chronic hepatitis B is a condition where the virus persists in the body for over six months. Most cases show no obvious symptoms but can silently progress, leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer if not monitored and treated promptly.

Tue Diem