P35.3: Congenital viral hepatitis

While in the womb or during the birth, a hepatitis virus was contracted.

Hepatitis viruses cause inflammation of the liver.

The placenta forms in the mother’s womb during pregnancy. The placenta consists of cells from the mother and cells from the unborn child. The umbilical cord connects the child to the placenta.

If the mother is ill with a hepatitis virus while pregnant or at birth, the child's health can be harmed. During pregnancy, the virus can pass from the mother to the child via the placenta. During the birth blood can be exchanged between the mother and child through small wounds. Moreover, during the birth the child comes into contact with the mother's bodily fluids in the birth canal. A hepatitis virus can then be passed to the child via the blood or the bodily fluids.

If the child has contracted certain viruses, its health can be harmed. The liver can become inflamed. There can be a variety of indications of an inflamed liver in the child. For example, the baby's skin or the whites of its eyes, may be yellowish. The child may also be more lethargic than usual. The child may not grow like other children of the same age. In serious cases the liver can become enlarged and fluid can collect in the abdomen.

There may be no indications of health problems even though the child was infected by a virus.