Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It is usually caused by a virus.  Several viruses  cause this condition , the most common of which are Hepatitis A,B and C.

Hepatitis A is usually spread through contaminated food and water. People traveling to developing countries are at increased risk. Hepatitis B and C occur after contact with the blood and bodily fluids of an infected person. This may occur through the following ways

• sharing needles used to inject blood
• though sex with an infected person

However hepatitis C is spread infrequently through sex.

What are the symptoms of hepatitis ?

Symptoms range from mild to severe . Some individuals may remain asymptomatic. However when symptoms do occur, they include :

• jaundice
• fatigue
• nausea and vomiting
• low grade fever
• upper abdominal discomfort

What is chronic hepatitis ?

Chronic hepatitis is when individuals who contracted hepatitis B or C   do not clear the virus from their bodies. The virus can remain in their bodies for life. Individuals with this condition are at high risk of liver disease and liver cancer. Individuals with hepatitis A do not develop chronic infections.

What is the effect of hepatitis on your pregnancy ?

Hepatitis A does not pose any risk to the baby when contracted during pregnancy . It is rarely passed from the mother to baby during childbirth.

Hepatitis B poses the greatest risk during pregnancy . The virus can be passed on to the baby during childbirth. The higher the levels of virus in the mother’s body, the greater the risk.  Babies infected with this virus at birth develop chronic hepatitis B infection and face an increased risk of liver disease and liver cancer as adults.

Hepatitis C is passed on to the baby in about 4% of all cases during childbirth .

How is hepatitis treated ?

There are no medications  to treat recently acquired ( acute ) hepatitis.  There are medications for treating chronic hepatitis B and C, however these are not recommended during pregnancy.  They  are suspected to increase the risk of birth defects and miscarriages . These drugs are also not recommended during breastfeeding. If you are taking any medication for hepatitis and find out you are pregnant, contact your doctor right away.

How to prevent hepatitis infection in babies ?

It is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC that all pregnant women be screened  for hepatitis with a blood test. If the results comes back positive  for acute or  chronic hepatitis , her baby should receive hepatitis B vaccine  and immune globulin within 12 hours of birth. This prevents infections in more 90% of babies. The baby should also have 2 doses of this medication during  the first 6 months of life.

The CDC also recommends that all babies be vaccinated against hepatitis B before leaving the hospital  and at 1 to 2 months and 6 to 18 months.

There is currently no way to prevent the  mother from passing on hepatitis C to her baby.

How to  protect yourself  from hepatitis during pregnancy ?

The best defense against hepatitis A and B is though vaccination.

If you plan on traveling to developing countries, you should get vaccinated against hepatitis A. This vaccine has not be tested in pregnant women but is not known to pose any risk.

The hepatitis B vaccine  is considered safe during pregnancy.  High risk individuals such as health care workers, public safety workers  and women living with an infected partner should get this vaccine before or during pregnancy .

There is no vaccine against hepatitis C. Women can help protect themselves  from hepatitis B and C by practicing safe sex, avoiding illicit injected drugs  and avoid sharing  personal care items such as razor blades that may have blood on them.
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