Hepatitis D

October 2007     View PDF     En español

What happens when you have
both hepatitis D and B?

CO-INFECTION: When a person gets both viruses at the same time, it is called co-infection. If this happens, then nearly everyone (more than 9 in 10) recovers fully. Few people go on to develop chronic disease. HDV may keep HBV from reproducing as fast as it would if the HBV were alone, so chronic infection is less likely. Again, because the two viruses are present, the acute disease may cause more severe illness in some people, as well as in people living with HIV.

SUPER-INFECTION: When a person gets HDV after already having HBV, it is called super-infection. This is a more serious state of health. Once the liver cells contain a large amount of HBV, HDV tends to be much more active. More than half of those with super-infection go through severe acute disease. Nearly 9 in 10 with super-infection will develop more severe chronic hepatitis. Cirrhosis and liver failure are more common as well. Preventing super-infection is a real concern.