What is Hepatitis D?
Hepatitis D, or Delta hepatitis, is a disease caused by the homonymous single-stranded RNA virus (HDV), which requires the presence of HBV to replicate; consequently, only those subjects who have previously contracted type B hepatitis (super-infection) or simultaneously (co-infection) may be affected by hepatitis D.
Symptoms
To learn more: Symptoms Hepatitis D
As suggested by common sense, the overlap of the two infections results in greater hepatic lesions, accelerating the evolution of cirrhosis or causing acute and massive necrosis of the liver with fulminant course.
Causes, Contagion, Vaccination
Hepatitis D is common a bit at all latitudes, frequent especially among drug addicts (often affected by the triad of HBV, HDV, HIV) and among those who have undergone several blood transfusions in the past (we remind, in fact, that today the risk of contracting the virus by transfusion is almost non-existent).
Unlike hepatitis B, there is no effective vaccine against hepatitis D.
As stated in the article, it is obvious that people vaccinated for HBV are also protected from HDV infections, while there is no possibility of protecting carriers of the B virus against superinfection.
Care and Vaccination
Prevention is based on the same behavioral rules necessary to avoid contracting hepatitis B.
Always in analogy with this form, it must be said that there is no truly effective cure even for Delta hepatitis, which is another reason to operate a correct prevention.
Discrete results, but often only temporary, can be obtained by three-weekly infusion of interferon in doses of 5 MIU per square meter of body surface.
Continue: Hepatitis D Medications »
