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Delta agent (Hepatitis D) - Overview

Alternative Names

Hepatitis D virus

Definition of Delta agent (Hepatitis D):

Delta agent is a type of virus called hepatitis D that causes symptoms only in people who have a hepatitis B infection.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is only found in people who carry the hepatitis B virus. HDV may make a hepatitis B infection or existing hepatitis B liver disease worse. It can cause symptoms in people with hepatitis B virus who never had symptoms.

Hepatitis D infects about 15 million people worldwide. It occurs in 5% of people with hepatitis B.

Risk factors include:

Abusing intravenous (IV) drugs
Being infected while pregnant (the mother can pass the virus to the baby)
Carrying the hepatitis B virus
Having had a hepatitis B infection in the past
Men having intercourse with other men
Receiving many blood transfusions

Hepatitis B virus

Reviewed last on: 2/21/2009
George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Dienstag JL. Chronic viral hepatitis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone;2005:chap 112.

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