hepatitis D

noun

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by the hepatitis D virus, is marked chiefly by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, and jaundice, and is transmitted especially by contact with infected blood (as by transfusion or by sharing contaminated needles in illicit intravenous drug use) or by contact with other infected body fluids (such as semen)

Note: When exposure to the viruses causing both hepatitis B and hepatitis D occurs simultaneously, the acute phase of hepatitis D tends to be more severe but with a lower risk of chronic infection. When exposure to the hepatitis D virus follows an established hepatitis B infection, the acute phase is more likely to progress to a serious chronic infection leading to liver damage and failure.

called also delta hepatitis

Examples of hepatitis D in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For chronic infections like hepatitis D, which Eiger is also testing with interferon lambda, the drug needs to be taken weekly for an extended period of time. —Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2023

Of course, there are various hepatitis viruses that can cause hepatitis such as the hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E viruses. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 26 Apr. 2022

The two other types of hepatitis, hepatitis D, also known as delta hepatitis, and hepatitis E, are not common in the United States. —Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, 15 June 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hepatitis D

noun

-ˈdē 

variants also hepatitis delta

: an acute or chronic hepatitis that is caused by the hepatitis D virus, is marked chiefly by fatigue, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, and jaundice, and is transmitted especially by contact with infected blood (as by transfusion or by sharing contaminated needles in illicit intravenous drug use) or by contact with other infected body fluids (such as semen)

Note: When exposure to the viruses causing both hepatitis B and hepatitis D occurs simultaneously, the acute phase of hepatitis D tends to be more severe but with a lower risk of chronic infection. When exposure to the hepatitis D virus follows an established hepatitis B infection, the acute phase is more likely to progress to a serious chronic infection leading to liver damage and failure.

called also delta hepatitis