Hepatitis Forums
Hepatitis C Main Forums => On Hepatitis C Treatment => Topic started by: Odell on July 07, 2011, 09:40:31 am
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Can hepatitis C turn into hepatitis D? Is it worse than hepatitis A?
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Hi Odell...
Good questions.
No, hepatitis C cannot turn into hepatitis D -- these are actually infections caused by two different viruses. The former is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), whereas the second is caused by the hepatitis delta virus (HDV). Interestingly, HDV is quite different in structure from the major hepatitis viruses, such as hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus and HCV. Also, HDV generally requires the help of HBV in order to reproduce.
Hepatitis C is potentially worse the hepatitis A, given than HAV is always a short-lived infection (the immune system eventually clears it), whereas approximately 80 percent of people who become infected with HCV will carry the virus forever (if it's not treated). While both HAV and HCV can cause acute problems -- liver inflammation in the weeks following infection -- HCV can also lead to chronic problems, such as severe liver damage (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.
It's good to keep in mind that HAV infection can be bad news for someone with chronic HCV infection. In turn, it's a really good idea for people diagnosed with hep C to be vaccinated against both HAV and HBV.
Hope this is helpful!
Tim
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I never heard of Hep D. Is there an E, F and Hep G?
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Hepatitis has several different causes, five of which are viruses, hep A, hep B, hep C, hep D and hep E. Hep E is very similar to hep A -- it's spread through contaminated fecal matter -- but is relatively rare in the United States.
No hep F or hep G -- at least not yet (wink)
Tim