The
symptoms of hepatitis D are similar to hepatitis B monoinfection. In a recent
(acute) infection, there are often no symptoms. It can cause mild flu-like
symptoms, pale stools, dark urine, fever or yellowing of the skin and/or eyes.
In chronic
infection, most people have no symptoms until they develop cirrhosis or liver
cancer. The most common symptom of chronic hepatitis B and D is fatigue.
A hepatitis
D diagnosis can only be made if there are also hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
present. HBsAg is the outer surface, or ‘envelope’, of the hepatitis B virus.
The delta virus needs this to reproduce.
Glossary
- antigen
Something the immune system can recognise as 'foreign' and attack.
- cirrhosis
Scarring of the liver – the structure of the liver is altered. See also
‘fibrosis’, which is moderate scarring. See also ‘compensated cirrhosis’ and
‘decompensated cirrhosis’.
- monoinfection
Having one infection. Often used in contrast to coinfection, for example when people have both hepatitis B and HIV.
- PCR
Polymerase
chain reaction, a method of amplifying fragments of genetic material so that they
can be detected. Some viral load tests use this method.
If
hepatitis D is suspected, then a test for antibodies would be performed. If the
test is positive, then a PCR test for hepatitis D antigen is required to
distinguish between an infection that is currently active and one that has been
cleared. This test is only available in a few specialised laboratories.