Hepatitis D is a disease of the liver that can cause joint pain, dark urine, nausea, and other symptoms. This eMedTV page gives an overview of this disease (which is caused by the hepatitis D virus), noting how it's spread and how it can be treated.
As this eMedTV page explains, causes of hepatitis D can include exposure to blood or blood products (such as through infected needles used for tattoos or body piercing), as well as exposure to other infected bodily fluids (such as semen or saliva).
The hepatitis D virus is spread through contact with blood or other infected bodily fluids. This eMedTV page covers the ways in which hepatitis D transmission can occur (such as through unprotected sex with an infected person or sharing drug needles).
This eMedTV page covers the hepatitis D incubation period (or the time between transmission of the hepatitis D virus and the start of symptoms of hepatitis D). This page discusses how long this period lasts and when a person starts to be contagious.
This eMedTV resource describes some possible symptoms of hepatitis D (such as muscle pain and diarrhea), and also provides information on how long it takes for hepatitis D symptoms to develop and how long they may last.
A hepatitis D diagnosis begins with taking the patient's medical history and performing a physical exam. This eMedTV article describes other tests a doctor may use as part of diagnosing hepatitis D (for example, liver enzyme tests).
This eMedTV page outlines hepatitis D treatment options (including supportive care and liver transplantation). This page also lists things a person with chronic hepatitis D can do to stay healthy during and after treatment (like avoiding unsafe sex).
This eMedTV page explains that hepatitis D prevention involves getting the hepatitis B vaccine and avoiding high-risk behaviors such as shooting drugs and sharing razors, washcloths, or other objects that may have an infected person's blood on them.
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