Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D

Hepatitis D is considered the most severe form of hepatitis because it is more likely to develop liver complications. As with other types of hepatitis, it can cause infection and inflammation of the liver, causing various symptoms to the patient.

Some of the main symptoms of hepatitis D include inflammation of the skin and eyes, abdominal and joint pain, vomiting, extreme fatigue, urinary blackness, and loss of appetite.

Hepatitis D can be transmitted through bodily fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretion, semen, and urine of an infected person. If the infected syringe has pierced the hand or has sex with the infected person, hepatitis D can become infected.

The cause of hepatitis D is hepatitis D virus or hepatitis delta virus (HDV). HDV cannot survive without the hepatitis B virus in the body. Therefore, hepatitis D can only develop if a person is already affected by hepatitis B. The patient may have hepatitis B and D at the same time, or hepatitis B may only initially and eventually be affected by hepatitis D .

Because two types of virus are resistant to the liver, they are often more difficult to treat than other types of hepatitis. According to doctors, hepatitis D does not have a drug, but the patient may be given medications to alleviate the symptoms. If the condition already has complications, the patient may undergo liver transplant.

History

Only in the middle of 1977 was there a report of hepatitis D virus (HDV). According to the report, HDV has been found in patients with hepatitis B. As a result, researchers have studied HDV through chimpanzees. They were able to isolate the virus in 1986 and call it the delta virus.

Hepatitis B with hepatitis D can have complications, one of which is Labrea fever. This condition is a type of tropical viral infection that was discovered in the 1950s in the city of Labrea on the Amazon. However, it is not yet known that hepatitis B and D virus are involved. In this condition, the patient develops high fever, nausea, headache, vomiting blood, and so on. The patient usually dies from acute liver failure or rapid liver failure. As a result, Labrea fever is considered a deadly disease.

Types

Hepatitis D is divided into two main types. These include the following:

Acute hepatitis D. In acute hepatitis D, liver infection is short-term or instantaneous. Its symptoms are the same as other types of hepatitis, but the patient may be more serious. At times, the body is able to fight off the virus and lose itself.

Chronic hepatitis D. In chronic hepatitis D, liver infection is long-term or longer compared to acute hepatitis D. At this stage, the liver has a variety of complications such as liver failure.

Causes

The cause of hepatitis D is the hepatitis D virus (HDV). It is possible for a person to get this virus if the body has access to the bodily fluids of the infected person, such as blood, vaginal secretion, semen, and urine. The virus can be acquired by the following:

Sex with the infected person. Sex is one of the leading causes of hepatitis D. If a partner has hepatitis D, it is also highly likely to be infected, especially if they do not use sexual protection.

Accidentally pierced by contaminated syringe. It can also cause hepatitis D if it is pierced by a contaminated syringe. This usually occurs with healthcare workers or hospital staff.

Injection of illicit drugs. If a person is addicted to illicit drugs, it is possible that his or her colleagues in the drug are borrowing syringes used in the injection. An example of a drug being injected is

Contaminated blood. HDV can also be obtained if infected with blood. Although there are screening tests for this, blood transfusions can be treated by improper preparation.

Infection of the mother to the mother with hepatitis D. Although very rare, the baby in the womb may also have hepatitis D if her mother is affected by this condition.

HDV is not transmitted in infected human saliva. This means that it can lead to kissing, coughing, sneezing, the use of cutlery, dishes, or glasses of infected people, and much more.

Symptoms

Symptoms of different types of hepatitis are almost identical. However, the underlying symptoms of a patient with hepatitis D are usually more severe because in addition to hepatitis D he also has hepatitis B.

Here are the symptoms that can be experienced when you have this condition:

• Having jaundice or jaundice and eyes
• Abdominal pain in the right and upper parts
• Having a fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Experiencing extreme stress
• Blackish urine color
• Grayness of dirt
• Weight loss
• Swinging or swelling of the stomach
• Feet of feet

Risk Factors

Although everyone may have hepatitis D, people who belong to the following group are at higher risk:

• Patients with hepatitis B
• People not immunized with hepatitis B vaccine
• People who have sex with different partners without protection
• Men who have sex with men
• People using illicit drugs
• Infants in the womb with a mother with hepatitis D
• People working in the hospital
• People collecting medical waste
• Patients who need frequent blood transfusion
• People living in areas with many cases of hepatitis D

Complications

When the patient's condition leads to chronic hepatitis D, the patient is more likely to develop liver complications. These include the following:

Liver cirrhosis. It is a type of complication in which the liver develops wounds. Because of this, blood vessels in the liver become blocked and cause delays in performing liver functions in the body. Examples of liver functions include bile production, storage of sugar and vitamins, and blood purification.

Liver cancer. Patients with hepatitis D may also have liver cancer. While it can spread to other parts of the body, it can be treated if it is detected and treated immediately.

Liver failure. Liver failure is a liver failure. It is also known as end-stage liver disease. This means that this is the worst stage of liver failure. Often, the only way to save a patient's life is to undergo a liver transplant.

To avoid                 

Hepatitis D can be easily avoided especially if the following suggestions are made:

Hepatitis B vaccine vaccination. You will not have hepatitis D if you do not have hepatitis B. To prevent this, get the hepatitis B vaccine especially if it was not vaccinated at an early age.

Use of sexual protection. When having sex with a lesser known partner, use a condom-like protection to prevent bodily fluid from being directly or indirectly affected.

Stop using illicit drugs. Some of the illicit drugs are used by the syringe. When addicted to the drug, it may take several times to use the syringes contaminated. Examples of illegal drugs injected are heroin, cocaine, and

Wearing gloves. If a laboratory specialist, nurse, or doctor, strictly adhere to the hospital's protocol to wear gloves, especially if the patient has a blood sample. Wearing thick gloves helps to prevent the syringe's hands from being punctured completely.