A kind of serious infection of the liver is hepatitis B which has to be given due importance, due to the severity and the complications it would bring. The liver is one of the five main eliminative organs of the body and as such, it stands foremost in safeguarding the body against all invading germs and diseases. It performs more than 50 functions and functions as a gland too.

All the toxins that invade the body are first counterattacked by the liver and until it is overwhelmed, it allows less toxic substances to get into the body through the blood stream. There are various types of toxic substances that cause harms such as a cigarette smoke, alcohol, wine or beer, illegal drugs like cocaine, car exhaust fumes, carbon monoxide and many more. These kinds of toxins make the liver work overtime and are detrimental to the over all health.

Since liver is the first line of defense for the human body, it must be protected at the earliest age of life and hence new born babies must be given the hepatitis B shot. In fact, this is the first vaccination that the new born should receive because the hepatitis B virus can be passed on from the mother to the child, during child birth. Infants of immigrants who come from areas that have high incidence of hepatitis B are also prone to this disease more. Doctors recommend that the expectant mothers must have a hepatitis B test to find whether they are faced and this will help to find out when the baby will need the first hepatitis B shot.

In case of absence of hepatitis B virus, the child can be allowed to have a delayed shot but it is however absolutely necessary to have a shot, since it has the risk of getting this contagious diseases. If the mother has tested positive for hepatitis B or test result was inconclusive when tested, the shot is given within twelve hours of the child’s birth. But this one initial dose alone is not enough to protect the baby in full. It needs several more doses, the second one of which is given at the age of one or two months.

There are two types of shots for this type, the mono valent Hepatitis B vaccine and a combination vaccine containing hepatitis B. If the former type is administered, there will not be any need for a repeat dose at four months of age but if the later type is given, another shot will be required at four months. After twenty four weeks, at six months of age, the final dose of hepatitis shot can be given. If the mother is infected, the infants must be tested after their third dose of the vaccine so that it can be found if any further treatment is needed for the child.

For more information on Hepatitis B Shot, Hepatitis A Vaccine, contact experienced Doctors and Health Consultants on eZdia.

Dr Sarvesh Jain

Dr Rubina Mushtaq