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How to prevent Hepatitis B in the fetus, if the mother is positive?

Dr Patrick Kamath
Senior Gastroenterologist,
Mayo Clinic, Rochester,
USA

Q: If a female's status of Hepatitis B is unknown or positive and she is carrying a pregnancy of 26 weeks, then what steps should be taken to protect the newborn from Hepatitis B?

A:It is important to know whether the mother has hepatitis B first. The baby should be given hepatitis B immunoglobulin within 12 hours of delivery and vaccination for hepatitis B if the mother is hepatitis B positive.