Panicing!

[katikja]

Hello,


Here is the story.

My wife has given birth to twins on the 21st of this month. My wife was known to be hep. B positive prior to delivery. The babies were given a bath asap to remove any blood and were given immunoglobulin injections withing 2-3 hours of birth. However, the standard Hep. B vaccine injection was forgotten for some reason and only given today (24th), i.e. 3 days after birth!!! Is this way too late? Are my babies likely to get the virus?

Thanks for any help

Alex

[PaigeC]

With HBIG coverage from birth, the timing of the start of vaccination does not seem to be of importance within the first month of life

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6...?dopt=Abstract


It also appears that the protocol depends on the antigen status of your wife. http://depts.washington.edu/hepstudy...iscussion.html
I think the immunoglobulin is the most important part and your chances of the babies not getting it are high. Take a deep breath and enjoy your babies!

Congrats on the twins.

[amnesiac]

Did your wife have e antigen done during pregnancy?

[katikja]

Originally Posted by amnesiac

Did your wife have e antigen done during pregnancy?

Yes. I think she was e antigene negative but HBsAg positive.

What does it mean?

Thanks
Katikja

[katikja]

Originally Posted by PaigeC

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6...?dopt=Abstract


It also appears that the protocol depends on the antigen status of your wife. http://depts.washington.edu/hepstudy...iscussion.html
I think the immunoglobulin is the most important part and your chances of the babies not getting it are high. Take a deep breath and enjoy your babies!

Congrats on the twins.

Thanks for your very encouraging response.

Alex

[katikja]

Originally Posted by amnesiac

Did your wife have e antigen done during pregnancy?

Sorry, yes, she had a test during pregnancy and she was found to be HepB positive and there was a note in her file to immunise the newborns immediately after birth.

Alex

[amnesiac]

Women who are surface antigen positive but e antigen negative are MUCH less likely to transmit the virus to the baby at birth than those who are also e antigen positive, just to ease your mind. There would be significantly greater concern had the HBIG been delayed, but I think that most healthcare professionals wouldn't be terribly concerned about a birth dose of vaccine being delayed but still given within 7 days of birth. You might ask your doc(s) that question - how long of a delay increases risk.

[katikja]

Originally Posted by amnesiac

Women who are surface antigen positive but e antigen negative are MUCH less likely to transmit the virus to the baby at birth than those who are also e antigen positive, just to ease your mind. There would be significantly greater concern had the HBIG been delayed, but I think that most healthcare professionals wouldn't be terribly concerned about a birth dose of vaccine being delayed but still given within 7 days of birth. You might ask your doc(s) that question - how long of a delay increases risk.

Thanks for the informative reply.

Alex