Immunization Hepatitis


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Hepatitis D

What is hepatitis D?

Hepatitis D is a severe viral infection found in persons already infected with acute or chronic hepatitis B infection. When hepatitis D occurs in persons who already have chronic hepatitis B, it is considered a superinfection. When people develop acute cases of hepatitis B and hepatitis D at the same time, hepatitis D is considered a co-infection.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of hepatitis D are similar to those of hepatitis B and may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice. Coinfection with hepatitis B and hepatitis D usually causes an acute illness that can not be distinguished from acute hepatitis B infection alone.

People co-infected with acute cases of both viruses usually go into remission (meaning the symptoms of the diseases subside). In contrast, 90% of individuals with hepatitis D superinfection develop persistent infection, which eventually leads to chronic liver disease.

When do the symptoms start?

The incubation period (time from exposure to showing signs of the disease) for superinfection is estimated to be approximately 2 to 8 weeks. When hepatitis B and hepatitis D viruses infect at the same time, the incubation period is similar to that of hepatitis B (45 to 160 days).

How is the virus spread?

Hepatitis D may be spread by exposure to contaminated blood products or needles and by unprotected sex with an infected person. Blood tests can diagnose hepatitis D, but those tests are less accurate and sensitive than the tests used to diagnose hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

What is the treatment for hepatitis D?

There is no specific treatment for the symptoms of hepatitis D.

How long is an infected person contagious to others?

The hepatitis D virus may be transmitted to others by the above mentioned methods and may be transmitted as long as hepatitis B is also present in the patient.

How can hepatitis D be prevented?

Because hepatitis D virus cannot be transmitted in the absence of hepatitis B infection, hepatitis B immunization protects against hepatitis D infection. Other effective means of preventing hepatitis D are to avoid contact with the blood and body fluids, including semen and vaginal secretions, of infected individuals.