Hepatitis D Health Video

Hepatitis D is an inflammation of the liver caused by viral infection. Symptoms include jaundice, nausea, and lack of appetite. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and treatments of hepatitis D in this health video.

Take Action

Seek supportive care
Vaccinate against Hepatitis D
Consult a doctor
Avoid IV drug use

About this Author

Dr. Carolyn Cooper joined On Call Medical Group in 2007. She is a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician, and has been practicing in San Francisco for over seven years. She received a BS from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and completed her medical education at the Welsh National School of Medicine in Cardiff, Wales. Dr Cooper completed her internship and residency at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. She has previously worked as a Clinical Investigator at Stanford University School of Medicine, and in private practice in San Francisco. Dr Cooper has participated in many research studies, and is also widely published.

CAROLYN COOPER, MD: I'm Dr. Cooper and I'm going to be talking about hepatitis D. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver and hepatitis D is inflammation of the liver due to a virus called hepatitis D. And hepatitis D, also known as the delta virus, was first described in 1977 in Italy. And hepatitis D is an interesting virus and in the fact that it requires the presence of hepatitis B to infect the individual. So, the signs and symptoms of hepatitis D are jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, anorexia, and change in color of stools and urine. So, once hepatitis D has been diagnosed, the treatment is really supportive care if this is an acute infection. If the patient has not been vaccinated against hepatitis B, they should also have that vaccination. There is no specific treatment against hepatitis D. Interferon alfa has been used in severe cases of hepatitis D and in very, very rare cases liver transplant is the only treatment available. The most people at risk for hepatitis D are people in the Mediterranean where hepatitis D is more common and in IV drug users.