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hep b jab

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morocco · 19/04/2003 00:43

OK I know it's the Easter weekend and you're all off getting stuck in traffic but if anyone's around ....
Does anyone know anything about the hep b vaccine for babies? My ds is due to have his at 6 months as it is routine here but I know that is not the case everywhere - has anyone on mumsnet given it to their child? or heard terrible things about it?

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MNHQ

tech · 24/04/2003 00:33

Hi Morocco,
Getting Hep B as a child is much more dangerous than getting it as an adult. A child is much less likely to "clear" the virus, and so more likely to go on to become a chronic carrier (more likely than not if infected as an infant).

Being a long-term carrier is bad news - it brings a very much elevated risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. The disease is very common in some parts of the world. Incidence in some countries is as high as 20% of the population.

By the by, hep b is fairly infectious and can spread through saliva and cuts etc as well as through sex and sharing needles. It can also survive outside the body for long periods in dried blood etc. For these reasons, anyone living with someone with Hep B is advised to be vaccinated. This infectiousness is probably also the source of the day-care risk factor. All healthcare workers and care assistants etc are routinely vaccinnated in the UK. And yes, donated blood is screened for Hep B.

Hope this helps,
tech

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