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Epidemiology of hepatitis B in children
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
Hepatitis B - anthroponous infection: the only source of infection is a person. The main reservoir is the "healthy" virus carriers; less important are patients with acute and chronic forms of the disease.
Currently in the world, according to incomplete data, there are about 300 million virus carriers.
Hepatitis B virus is transmitted exclusively parenterally: when transfused with infected blood or its products (plasma, erythrocyte mass, human albumin, protein, cryoprecipitate, antithrombin III, etc.), use of poorly sterilized syringes, needles, cutting tools, as well as scarification, tattoos, surgical interventions, dental treatment, endoscopic examination, duodenal probing and other manipulations, during which the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes is impaired.
To natural ways of transfer HBV carry transmission at sexual contact and vertical transfer from mother to the child. The sexual mode of transmission should also be considered parenteral, since infection occurs through inoculation of the virus through microtraumas of the mucous membranes of the genital organs.
Infection of children from mothers - carriers of HBV occurs mainly during childbirth as a result of contamination from blood containing amniotic fluid through macerated skin and mucous membranes of the child. In rare cases, the infection of the child occurs immediately after birth, with close contact with the infected mother. Transmission of infection in these cases is carried out through micro-trauma, i.e. Parenteral route, and, possibly, breastfeeding. Infection of the child occurs, most likely, not through the milk but as a result of the blood of the mother (from the nipple cracks) getting onto the macerated mucous membranes of the child's mouth.
The susceptibility of the population to the hepatitis B virus, apparently, is universal, not the outcome of a person's encounter with a virus usually becomes an asymptomatic infection. The frequency of atypical forms does not lend itself to accurate accounting, but judging by the identification of seropositive persons, then for every case of manifest hepatitis B there are dozens and even hundreds of subclinical forms.
As a result of transferred hepatitis B, a permanent lifelong immunity is formed. Repeated disease is unlikely.
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