Each year approximately 20,000 infants are born to women
with chronic hepatitis B (HbsAg positive) in the United
States. Without appropriate intervention, up to 85% of these
babies will become infected, not specifically during labor
and delivery but during the neonatal period. These infants
have a 90% risk of chronic hepatitis B infection and up to
25% will die prematurely of chronic liver disease, including
cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Proper screening and
treatment can almost completely prevent this problem. -The
Perinatal Advisor, Vol. 1 No 3, 1998
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 23 June 9, 2000)
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