Perinatal Hepatitis B Program

    

 

PERINATAL HEPATITIS B PROGRAM

 

  WHAT IS" HEPATITIS B "?

•    It is a virus which causes the most common serious infection of the liver
•    It damages the liver and prevents it from protecting the body from  infection, bleeding, etc.
•    It can lead to premature death from liver cancer or liver failure
•    It is dangerous because often there may be no symtpoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage

 

     WHAT IS "PERINATAL HEPATITIS B"?

•   It is the Hepatitis B infection  which newborns contract  during the birth process from their infected moms
•   The younger a person is when infected, the greater the chance of becoming a chronic carrier
•   About 90% of newborns who are exposed will become chronic carriers

 

     WHAT IS THE PERINATAL HEPATITIS B PROGRAM?

•  A federally funded program
•  Administered by the State and Douglas County through Public Health Nurse Case Managers
•  Dedicated to preventing Hepatitis B and its' carrier state to babies who are exposed through the birthing process
•  Utilizes early identification of Hepatitis B carrier moms who are pregnant
•  Identifies, screens and immunizes susceptible household contacts
•  Screens newborns for infection shortly after delivery
•  Administers HBIG and the Hepatitis B immunization series to susceptible newborns
•  Provides education to clients, providers and our community

 

The Hepatitis B immunization series is free

 through the Douglas County Health Department Clinic

 for those with no resources

      *PLEASE CALL 402-444-6163 FOR INFORMATION ON HEPATITIS B IMMUNIZATION SERVICES

 

 

 

 

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• The program educates health care people and the general public about Hepatitis B. The more people who know about the vaccine, the less people likely to get the diseas