Background: Hepatitis B is a major health problem worldwide, with over two billion people with evidence of infection and more than 350 millions chronically infected. Chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection is responsible for 60-80% of hepatocellular carcinomas, and it is the tenth leading cause of death worldwide. The household transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major health problem. High incidence of HBV infection is observed within the household contacts of HBV carriers.
Transmission of HBV infection mainly occurs through parenteral and sexual exposure. Vertical transmission occurs from infected mother to her baby during the perinatal period. In addition, horizontal transmission among close contacts is well recognized as a mode of transmission of HBV infection.
Patients and Methods: This is a prospective study that included 63 patients with chronic HBV infection that follow up in HBV outpatient clinic in Qena university hospital “between January 2019 to June 2019". All patients subjected to: full clinical evaluation, diagnostic modalities as: laboratory investigation and abdominal sonography.
Results:The whole number of screened members of all families are 300,while 77( 25.66%) of all family members are infected.
Conclusion: The present study has clearly explored the role of the HBV intra-familial transmission and spread in upper Egypt. Three patterns of HBV transmission were determined in the current cohort infected with HBV genotype D; maternal and paternal, spousal, and between siblings.