Hepatitis B: Protect Your Children

Your child is so precious to you and to the society. You will do anything to keep your child safe and sound. You provide your child what he or she needs to grow up, to be the best. But how aware are you about a deadly disease that may cause life long suffering or death to your baby? From the birth, there are so many infectious diseases that are prone to occur to your baby. Hepatitis B is one of them. It is caused by Hepatitis B virus. It is your consciousness that may protect baby to stay safe.

Hepatitis B virus is known as one of the most infective virus worldwide. Infants are more vulnerable to be infected by this. Statistics shows that, each year about half a million babies are borne who practically act as carriers of this.

Hepatitis B virus infects the liver. Once the liver is infected, it may be remain infected throughout the life. In almost 25% cases infected individuals suffer from permanent Liver damage, Hepatitis B infection, Liver Cirrhosis, Liver cancer etc. Each year almost a million people die due to Hepatitis B infection.

Spread of Hepatitis B virus occurs mostly via blood, blood based products (like needles during injection or blood transfusion etc) and surgical procedures. Mainly these five are regarded as main reasons:

• During birth: From infected mother to child.
• From a carrier to another healthy subject.
• Unprotected physical relationship between infected and non-infected persons. (oral kissing/sex and anal sex)
• Contaminated needle, syringe, blood bag or blood.
• Contaminated razor, blade etc. (specially in saloon/ barber shop)

People, who live in unhygienic and congested place, are prone to be infected. Anyone can be infected by this and cause others to be infected. It is a public health issue. It may be spread in endemic form.

Neonates are most susceptible (90% fatality rate) to be infected by this virus. It is more dangerous in case of infants as because early signs and symptoms are either hard to diagnose or may remain absent. There are some common risk factors by which infants and children may be infected. These are:

• Contaminated blades and needles use during delivery.
• Infected mother.
• Contaminated birth place.
• Contaminated vaccination equipments.
• Scratches by playmates during playing in the outdoors.
• Cut injury due to any cause.

It is really tough to look for the signs and symptoms in infants and babies. They are unable to complain and this makes the situation clumsy. However it is not wise to do nothing and to watch. So there are some conventional signs and symptoms presence of any of this may raise the question of hepatitis B viral infection. These are:

• Weakness or fatigue
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite, baby is not willing to take milk or food.
• Low grade fever.
• Signs of jaundice. (Yellow colorization of mucous membrane & sclera).

Currently there is no treatment that will cause complete cure to Hepatitis. Prevention is the only way. To prevent this one must take vaccine.

Primarily a baby should be given three doses of Hepatitis Vaccine. First dose is given at any time after birth. Second dose is given one month after the first dose and Third dose is given six months after the First dose. To ensure the safety of your baby, vaccinate as soon as possible.

Vaccination is so important because:

• This infects and damages the liver.
• Infants are more vulnerable.
• Currently to treatment is available.
• Vaccine is safe and potent solution.
• Vaccination is long term protection.

To ensure health and safety to your children, vaccinate them. If they are infected once, they will suffer for life time. There is no way out rather than vaccination.