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Overview of Hepatitis D
Hepatitis D is another type of viral infection of the liver that exists only in the presence of hepatitis B. People who are infected with hepatitis B can also become infected with hepatitis D at the same time. Individuals with a B and D coinfection often suffer more severe symptoms of illness and have a higher risk of liver failure than those with hepatitis B alone. Among people with chronic hepatitis B who are later infected with hepatitis D, a "superinfection" develops. Cirrhosis may occur more often in those with a "superinfection."
Hepatitis D is spread in the same way as hepatitis B, through exchange of infected blood or bodily fluids. Unprotected sex and intravenous drug use put people at high risk of infection. Settings where blood may be exchanged, such as healthcare institutions or tattoo parlors, provide an environment for hepatitis D transmission as well. The infection can also be passed from infected mothers to their newborns.
The only way to prevent hepatitis D is to prevent hepatitis B through vaccination.
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