Disease Fact Sheet Series:
What is hepatitis D?
Hepatitis D is an infection of the liver
caused by a defective virus (delta agent). Delta agent can cause infection
only in those individuals who have an active hepatitis B infection or who
are a hepatitis B carrier.
Who gets hepatitis D?
In the United States, hepatitis D infection occurs most commonly in
persons who are at high risk of hepatitis B infection, particularly drug
addicts and persons with hemophilia. Persons who are hepatitis B carriers
are at increased risk of hepatitis D infection, especially as they
participate in activities which put them at risk of repeated exposure to
hepatitis D (e.g., intravenous drug abuse, and unsafe sex, especially
among homosexuals).
How is the virus spread?
Routes of transmission of hepatitis D are similar to those of
hepatitis B. For this reason, it is seen in individuals who have received
a blood transfusion or who have shared needles during drug abuse.
What are the symptoms?
Onset of symptoms is usually abrupt and include fatigue, poor
appetite, fever, vomiting and occasionally joint pain, hives or rash.
Urine may become dark in color, and then jaundice (a yellowing of the skin
and whites of the eyes) may appear. Some individuals may experience few or
no symptoms.
How soon do symptoms occur?
The time period in man between exposure and onset of symptoms has not
been firmly established; this period in experimentally infected
chimpanzees is 2-10 weeks.
When and how long is a person able to spread hepatitis
D?
Blood is potentially infectious during all phases of acute delta agent
infection, but an individual is probably most infectious just prior to
onset of his illness. A chronically infected person's blood may continue
to be infectious.
What is the treatment for hepatitis D?
There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to
treat individuals with hepatitis D.
Is there a specific test for hepatitis D?
A test for detection of total antibody to hepatitis D virus is
commercially available. Other tests which detect early infection are
available only in research labs.
How can the spread of hepatitis D be prevented?
Since hepatitis D virus is dependent on hepatitis B virus to reproduce
itself, prevention of hepatitis B infection will suffice to prevent
hepatitis D infection in persons susceptible to hepatitis B.
For more information, contact your
Local
Public Health Department
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Last Revised: March 20, 2008
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