Hepatitis D

Homepage / Kidney - Liver / Hepatitis D

Make an Enquiry | Treatment Description

Description of Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D virus (HDV), sometimes known as the Delta Agent or Delta particle, is an infection which is linked to the presence of Hepatitis B (HBV). HDV cannot replicate and multiply without the presence of HBV infection.

The Hepatitis D virus can be contracted in 2 ways:

1. Co-infection: this is where an individual contracts HDV at the same time as contracting HBV
2. Super-infection: this is where an individual who is already infected with HBV (a chronic HBV carrier and therefore an individual who has not cleared the HBV infection) then becomes infected with HDV.

HDV infection is most commonly found in Eastern Europe, Middle East, parts of Central and South America, parts of Asia and Central Africa. Conversely infection rates of HDV are very low in most developed countries.

Since HDV infection exists only in the presence of HBV infection, the risks of contracting HDV and methods of spread are very similar to HBV. It is therefore a blood borne virus. Contact with infected blood or blood products, contaminated needles and other injecting equipment and unprotected sexual contact with an individual infected with HDV are the main risk factors for contracting this virus.

Co-infection with Hepatitis B and D viruses tends not to produce chronic disease but in those with chronic disease a very severe type of Hepatitis known as Fulminant Hepatitis is more likely than with Hepatitis B alone. Fulminant Hepatitis can be a life threatening condition.

Super-infection of an individual with chronic Hepatitis B with the Hepatitis D virus may lead to an increased risk of complications and progression of liver disease in the following ways:

- acute hepatitis becomes more likely in a previously healthy HBV carrier;
- an individual with mild hepatitis may go on to develop Fulminant Hepatitis;
- the risk of progression of liver disease becomes increased therefore increasing the chances of liver cirrhosis.

However, carriers of Hepatitis B who also have Hepatitis D have a reduced risk of cancer of the liver. This may be due to one of two reasons:

1. HDV may suppress the HBV infection;
2. HDV may lead to a rapid deterioration and progression of liver disease which may be fatal. The sufferer therefore dies before liver cancer can develop.

Symptoms of Hepatitis D infection are similar to Hepatitis B. As with Hepatitis B there maybe no symptoms in many individuals exposed to Hepatitis D. Others may develop flu like symptoms or jaundice. HDV is thought to have an incubation period of 3-12 weeks.

Diagnosis of HDV is by a blood test which detects HDV antibodies which are produced by the immune system. No vaccine at present exists for HDV but vaccinating against HBV will prevent HDV infection as HDV can not exist without HBV. However, those individuals already infected with HBV can not prevent contracting HDV.

Treatment of Hepatitis D is usually with high dose alpha-interferon which is also used to treat those with chronic hepatitis B.

Medical Facts

How You Will Feel:

How Long Will you stay in Hospital after your Hepatitis D?
Single Day In-patient Care

What to do next:
We specialise in providing medical care and surgery abroad. We only work with medical institutions that we have inspected and checked. We offer Hepatitis D in both North and South India as well as facilitation on all the other elements in your journey such as flights, accommodation and activities. Our team in India operate as your personal agents while you are in country and is tasked with supporting you in any way you need.

We work with hospitals across the world including France, UK, Canada, India, Pakistan, Malta and Hungary to provide our patients with the most appropriate levels of care and treatment

Click here for our estimated prices for most common surgical procedures around the world. .

We have teams in the UK, India and Pakistan who manage your stay and provide you with support whenever you need it. Please contact us to find out how we can help you. Contact us even if you are at the early stages of considering the possibility of treatment abroad.

Related Resources about Hepatitis D

Why Travel for Hepatitis D .

Travelling abroad for Hepatitis D can give you access to top quality health care quickly and cheaply. Our mission is to make your journey absolutely successful - in terms of treatment, in terms of outcomes and in terms of experience. We offer treatment in a wide range of locations including Europe, India and Singapore.

Make an Enquiry to Globe for Hepatitis D

Please feel free to post an enquiry to us at Globe if you are interested in having more details of how this all works and how we might be able to help you. Your information is treated as strictly confidential by us. We ask that you fill in the fields with the red stripes if possible. You can also contact us directly with details from our contact us page.

If you want to speed up the process or have a complex history that is specifically relevant to any further steps: please use our detailed medical questionnaire which includes a range of questions to capture details of your medical history and present condition. Please note that we share these details anonymously with clinical specialists for the purposes of considering your case and advising on a treatment plan. This means that we do not pass on your name or address details until you choose to proceed further with us.

Please fill out this form as completely as you can and we will revert to you with details of relevant services.
Name & Contact Details
Please enter your contact details so we can get back to you.
* *
please enter an email address to which we can send any details
Telephone Details
Address







Summary Personal Details
if different from the name above
in years


Medical Requirements *





such as scans, X Rays, Tests.


Visual CAPTCHA

This helps prevent automated form submissions. If you are not sure what the characters are, make your best guess. You will have another try in the next screen. Can't see the image? Click here for an audible version in english.

Contacting Globe Health Tours