Hepatitis D Transmission

A person must already have hepatitis B in order to get hepatitis D. Once a person has an active hepatitis B infection, hepatitis D transmission can occur in a number of ways. Among the things that can spread the hepatitis D virus are having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on someone else; sharing drugs, needles, or "works" when "shooting" drugs; and having sex with an infected person without using a condom. Regardless of how it occurs, spreading hepatitis D involves contact with bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or saliva.

Hepatitis D Information

An Overview of Hepatitis D Transmission

In order for a person to get

hepatitis D, he or she must have an active hepatitis B infection. This infection may occur at the same time that the hepatitis D virus is spread, or the person may already have hepatitis B. In either case, transmission of the hepatitis D virus (HDV) can occur in one of several ways. It can occur when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected. Hepatitis D transmission can also occur through contact with other body fluids, such as semen, vaginal fluids, or saliva.

Some specific ways in which the hepatitis D virus can be spread include:

By sharing drugs, needles, or "works" when "shooting" drugs
Through needlesticks or "sharps" exposures on the job
Having a tattoo or body piercing done with dirty tools that were used on someone else
By sharing objects that may have a very tiny amount of blood on them, such as a toothbrush, razor, or tools used for manicures
Through having sex with an infected person without using a condom (the effectiveness of latex condoms in preventing infection with HDV is unknown, but their proper use may reduce transmission)
From an infected mother to her baby during birth (very rarely).

(Hepatitis D Transmission Continued: Page 2)