[Role of children with chronic hepatitis in the intrafamilial spread of hepatitis B virus infection].

In order to evaluate the intrafamilial spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection we studied the serological markers of HBV in 101 relatives of 35 children with chronic hepatitis B. Sixty per cent of relatives had markers of infection and 25% showed persistent HBs antigenemia. The high prevalence of HBeAg versus anti-HBe in chronically infected relatives suggests a close temporal relationship of the infection between adults and children. These results support the hypothesis that the child is the main carrier of HBV infection in his family.