Case Reports
Intra-familial transmission of hepatitis B affecting all household members - A case report
Authors:
MIP Premathilake ,
Teaching Hospital Kandy, LK
RGLS Rajamanthree,
Teaching Hospital Kandy, LK
YLB Karunarathne,
Teaching Hospital Kandy, LK
MARV Muthugala
Teaching Hospital Kandy, LK
Abstract
Intra-familial transmission of hepatitis B is well documented and is the rationale for screening of household members. However, reports on transmission of infection to all household members are sparse. We report a case of intra-familial transmission of hepatitis B affecting all household members. The index case was a lady diagnosed with chronic liver cell disease, who was later found to have chronic hepatitis B viral infection. All household contacts were screened, which included five persons. All showed evidence of exposure and two were chronically infected, of which one was a pregnant lady. The risk of familial transmission of hepatitis B could be higher than expected. This case highlights the importance of active efforts to screen all family members at diagnosis of each new case of hepatitis B.
How to Cite:
Premathilake, M., Rajamanthree, R., Karunarathne, Y. and Muthugala, M., 2019. Intra-familial transmission of hepatitis B affecting all household members - A case report. Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases, 9(1), pp.84–87. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljid.v9i1.8235
Published on
26 Apr 2019.
Peer Reviewed
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