The Facts
Hepatitis B
- Most children with hepatitis B got it from their parent during birth.
- 90% of children who contract hepatitis B will live with the virus long-term.
- It is safe for people with hepatitis B to breast-feed their babies.
- There is a vaccine that will protect children against hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B is inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis b virus. Most children who have hepatitis B got it during the birthing process.
In Australia all newborns are offered hepatitis B vaccinations. The first of four free vaccination shots is usually given within a week of birth, preferably within the first 24 hours. The rest are given at 2, 4 and 6 months, often in combination with other vaccinations.
If a pregnant person has hepatitis B, the baby will receive an injection of antibodies within 12 hours of birth. This is in addition to the routine vaccine shots and will significantly reduce the chance of transmission to the newborn baby.
People with hepatitis B can safely breastfeed their infants unless their nipples are cracked or bleeding.
Hepatitis B is spread by blood-to-blood contact and sexual fluids. Children who are not vaccinated may become infected through sharing personal items with someone who has hepatitis B, such as toothbrushes, clippers and any item which may get blood on it.
They can also get it through blood exposure during play or fighting with other children.
Some people living with hepatitis B will need medication. This is mostly given to adults. Children are not usually treated but if needed, the child's specialist will prescribe the most suitable treatment protocol including: which drug to use, dosage, and monitoring frequency.
Children with hepatitis B need regular monitoring, usually every 6 to 12 months depending on medical advice.
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Hepatitis C
- Hepatitis C is not commonly found in Australian children.
- It is rare for a person with hepatitis C to pass it to their baby during pregnancy or birth.
- It is safe for people with hepatitis C to breast-feed their babies.
- Children may get hepatitis C from sharing personal items such as toothbrushes with someone who has hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C – inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus – is transmitted only from blood to bloodstream contact. In Australia, hepatitis C in children is rare.
A pregnant person with hepatitis C may pass the virus to their infants via the placenta during gestation, or via blood-to-blood contact during birth, but it is uncommon, occurring only in 5 out of 100 cases.
A person with hepatitis C may safely breast-feed their infants so long as their nipples are not cracked or bleeding.
Children may get hepatitis C through sharing personal items such as toothbrushes or clippers with a person who has hepatitis C. Any item that may get blood on it can be a risk.
There is no vaccination to protect people against hepatitis C.
New highly effective hepatitis C treatments are safe for children over three years old. Children with hepatitis C can be prescribed the new drugs by a paediatrician experienced in treating hepatitis C.
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Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis A is spread via food or water contaminated with the faeces of an infected person.
- Most children with hepatitis A don't have many symptoms.
- Hepatitis A symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and jaundice.
- There is a vaccine to protect children against hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A is liver inflammation caused by the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A is found in the faeces of people with the infection. It is transmitted when children, or adults, come into contact with contaminated objects, food or water.
Hepatitis A is not common in Australia.
Hepatitis A has a long incubation and symptoms usually don't appear until four weeks after initial infection. Symptoms include tiredness, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and jaundice.
Many children with hepatitis A, especially young children, don't have many symptoms. This means it is easy for the virus to transmit between children.
Children with hepatitis A will recover. Recovery time varies from weeks up to months with some taking as long as six months for full recovery.
There is no cure for hepatitis A but people who had hepatitis A before will develop immunity to the virus.
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Mystery Hepatitis
- In 2022 an outbreak of hepatitis affected children under 10 years old, in 35 countries.
- 22 children died in this outbreak and some needed liver transplants.
- The virus causing this hepatitis outbreak is not A, B, C, D, or E.
- Scientists think it may be caused by infection of different viruses at the same time.
The outbreak of a mystery hepatitis in youngsters was first detected on 5 April 2022. Cases were found in the UK, Europe and the USA.
A University of Sydney study in February 2024 found strong evidence supporting a leading theory that the hepatitis was caused by infection by different viruses at the same time.
A common childhood virus called AAV2 (adeno-associated virus 2), was present in blood and tissue samples from most of the children with this unexplained liver inflammation (i.e. hepatitis). Many of them were infected by multiple other viruses which scientists believe acted as 'helper viruses'.
AAV2 cannot multiply unless there is a 'helper virus' to kickstart the infection. These helper viruses can include common childhood disease viruses such as adenovirus, enterovirus, rhinovirus (common cold) and herpes viruses. In some children the COVID-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2 was also detected.
The timing of the outbreak around the COVID-19 pandemic could also be a clue, as young children who had been isolated had immune systems less trained to fight off common childhood infections.
