Hepatitis D symptoms, causes, diagnosis & treatment

#hepatitisd #hepatitis #overview Hepatitis D is a liver infection you can get if you have hepatitis B. It can cause serious symptoms that can lead to lifelong liver damage and even death. It’s sometimes called hepatitis delta virus (HDV) or delta hepatitis. Although it isn’t common in the United States, HDV is the most severe form of hepatitis. Over time, it can lead to liver cancer or liver failure. While treating HDV can be a challenge, doctors are hopeful that better treatments are on the way. Hepatitis D Symptoms The signs of HDV can include: Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice) Stomach upset Pain in your belly Throwing up Fatigue Not feeling hungry Joint pain Dark urine Light-colored stool If you already have hepatitis B, HDV can make your symptoms worse. Hepatitis D Causes You can get HDV if you come into contact with the blood or other body fluid of someone who’s sick with it. Yet it can infect you only if you have hepatitis B. HDV needs the “B” strain of hepatitis to survive. This can happen two ways: Co-infection: You can contract HBV and HDV at the same time Super-infection: You can get sick with hepatitis B first, then later come down with HDV. This is the most common way to get hepatitis D.