What is Hepatitis D?
Hepatitis D virus called HDV is a virus that requires hepatitis B virus HBV for its replication. That means, Hepatitis D virus can detect only in Hepatitis B infected patients. Because without Hepatitis B Hepatitis D virus cannot be survived and replicated.
As per WHO report, Hepatitis D virus HDV affects globally nearly 5% of people who have already chronic infection with hepatitis B virus. It is called Superinfection. In this case, patient’s condition could be more critical due infected with the multiple virus. HDV virus can come in case of indigenous populations, recipients of haemodialysis and people who inject drugs and received blood transfusion without testing.
Life of a Patient Infected with Superinfection
Hepatitis D is an inflammation of the liver caused by the Superinfection. However, this co-infection of HDV-HBV is considered the most severe form of chronic viral hepatitis due to more early and rapid progression seen in the patient like following:
- Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
- Liver Failure and
- Cirrhosis
In this case of co-infection, patients should not neglect their treatment, lifestyle and eating habits. They must avoid drinking and smoking. Chronic Hepatitis D is a rare disease of infection.
Diagnosis of Hepatitis D Infection
HDV infection is not available worldwide. Moreover, there is no standardization for HDV RNA assays, and most of the people even not listened it’s name. But it can response to the anti-viral therapy which is used for the treatment of Hepatitis B.
HDV infection is diagnosed by high levels of;
- 1) Anti-HDV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and
- 2) immunoglobulin M (IgM), and
- 3) HDV RNA in serum.
Hepatitis D Treatment
There is no cure for Hepatitis D infection. This virus will stay till Hepatitis B virus present in the body. If you have HDV infection, you may need to see a good and experienced doctor who works with diseases of the digestive tract, including the liver, like a gastroenterologist, hepatologist. As per your case, doctor will prescribe you, when you required to take and stop the anti-viral medications as well.
Hepatitis D Prevention
No vaccine can prevent HDV. The best way to avoid it is to cut your risk of getting hepatitis B. Talk to your doctor about getting an HBV vaccine. Avoid contact with blood or other body fluids of someone with hepatitis.
The person can only be infected with Hepatitis D, if he/she already infected with Hepatitis B virus and suffering from chronic diseases. So, Hepatitis B patients are should take care of the following pre-cautions:
- Don’t sex without condoms.
- Don’t do Oral Sex, Anal Sex.
- Don’t use, used needles or syringe at any cost.
- Keep your personal items like your toothbrush, body grooming kit, shaving kit separate.
- Don’t take blood transfusion without testing and confirmation.
- If you are a Kidney patient and doing dialysis, inform your doctor before dialysis.
- Avoid alcohol, red meat, refined sugar and listen to your doctor what they have been suggested you during the treatment. Keep your eyes on your eating habits. Follow the treatment and if your doctor suggested you for medication, take it intime, never skip the medicine, don’t do discontinued without the doctor’s permission.
