Buzzing In with Information about Hepatitis B!

 🐝 Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver of babies and young children. It can lead to lifelong liver disease, liver scarring (cirrhosis), or liver cancer later in life.

 🐝 About 296 million people are currently living with Hepatitis B around the world, with thousands of new cases being reported in the U.S. alone each year.  When Hepatitis B infects babies or toddlers, it is more likely to become a chronic condition than it is in adults.

🐝If a mother has Hepatitis B, her baby can be exposed to the virus during childbirth.  It can also be passed through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, such as saliva.

 🐝 Most babies do not show symptoms at first, even if they are infected. The virus can stay dormant in their body and slowly damage their liver over time.

 🐝 A blood test is used to screen for Hepatitis B. It looks for either the presence of the virus or evidence that the body has responded to it. 

 🐝 Yes. The Hepatitis B vaccine is administered as a series of shots that help the body build protection against the virus. It’s part of the standard childhood vaccination schedule in the United States and many other countries.

 🐝 The CDC recommends this schedule:

• First Dose  – At birth (within 24 hours)

• Second Dose  – 1 to 2 months

• Third Dose – 6+ months

If the mother has Hepatitis B, the newborn should get both the first vaccine dose and a protective medicine called HBIG right after birth.

🐝 After all three doses, the vaccine provides long-term protection in over 95% of healthy infants.