If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B virus (HBV),
you may be living with hepatitis D virus (HDV)
Don’t let it go undetected
Early detection matters.
Did you know that HDV only infects people who have HBV? You can get both viruses at the same time or get HDV after already having HBV.
If you have HDV and it does not go away on its own, it becomes chronic hepatitis D.
What you need to know about HDV
It is the most aggressive form of viral hepatitis.
Living with HDV can increase your risk of fibrosis, liver cancer, liver failure, cirrhosis, needing a liver transplant, and even death if not treated.
It can cause liver disease to progress quickly—in fact, it can cause your liver disease to progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer faster than HBV alone.
Testing for HBV and HDV is simple
Your doctor can give you a single blood test to determine if you are positive for HDV. Further, if you have any of the risk factors listed below, you should be tested for HDV every year. Some of the risk factors include:
Born or lived where HDV is common
Asia
- Central and Northern Asia
- Vietnam
- Mongolia
- Pakistan
- Japan
- Taiwan
Africa
- West Africa
- Horn of Africa
Pacific Islands
- Kiribati
- Nauru
Eastern Europe
- Eastern Mediterranean regions
- Turkey
South America
- Amazonian basin
Middle East
- All countries
Other
- Greenland
Additional factors
IV drug use
Men who have sex with men
Infection with hepatitis C virus or HIV
Multiple sexual partners or any history of STDs
Living with someone infected with HDV
The importance of early testing
Early testing can help identify HDV sooner, before serious liver damage develops. If you have HBV, find out if you have HDV so you can make informed health choices, including getting treatment. Take control of your health and ask your doctor to be tested today.
If you have HBV, get tested at least once
If you have a risk factor, get tested every year
Ask your doctor or healthcare provider about getting tested for HDV
The Hepatitis B Foundation offers HDV resources, including facts and figures, additional details on testing, and information for patients at Hepatitis Delta Connect.