Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus in a semirural population in Egypt.
A follow-up study for one year was made on 35 babies born to HBsAg positive mothers in a semirural population in Egypt. Five of 21 babies (24%) showed HBsAg in the umbilical cord blood and remained positive throughout the observation period. At 3 months, eight of 37 babies (23%) were HBsAg + ve. At 6 months, 13 of 35 babies (37%) were HBsAg + ve and they were also still found positive at 12 months. None of 30 babies born to HBsAg-ve mothers developed antigenaemia throughout the observation period. Factors which significantly contributed to transmission were maternal educational level, family socio-economic standard, family residence, maternal e/anti-e status, and maternal schistosomal infestation. Factors which did not significantly affect transmission were maternal age, maternal parasitic non-schistosomal infestations, maternal transaminases level, order of the child in the family, and type of child feeding. Of particular note, four of five babies (80%) born to HBsAg + ve mothers who as well had schistosomiasis were HBsAg + ve throughout the observation period.
Ghaffar
Y A
YA
Department of Medicine, Ain Shams University.
elSobky
M K
MK
Raouf
A A
AA
Dorgham
L S
LS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001722:Birth Order; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012423:Rural Health; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens