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 (super-infection) or simultaneously (co-infection) contracted hepatitis type B can be affected by hepatitis D.
Symptoms
For further information: Hepatitis D Symptoms
As suggested by common sense, the overlap of the two infections causes hepatic lesions of a greater degree, accelerating the evolution of cirrhosis or causing acute and massive necrosis of the liver with a fulminant course.
Causes, Contagion, Vaccination
"Hepatitis D is somewhat common" at all latitudes, frequent especially among drug addicts (often affected by the triad of HBV, HDV, HIV) and among those who, in the past, have undergone several blood transfusions (remember, in fact, that today the risk of contracting the virus through 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 from delta superinfection.
Care and Vaccination
Prevention is based on the same behavioral rules necessary to avoid contracting hepatitis B.
Again in analogy with this form, it must be said that there is no truly effective cure even for Delta hepatitis, one more reason to operate a correct prevention.
Fair 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.
Continued: Drugs for the Treatment of "Hepatitis D"
Related topics: hepatitis A; hepatitis B; hepatitis C; hepatitis E; Medicines for the treatment of hepatitis
