Hepatitis D is a liver inflammation caused by the virus HDV. It is rare in Germany.
An infection with hepatitis D can make the course of a hepatitis B infection much worse.
Hepatitis D is transmitted via blood. In Germany, it usually only affects people who inject drugs. Hepatitis D is only very rarely transmitted by sex.
Alone, hepatitis D cannot infect a person. The hepatitis D virus needs the hepatitis B virus in order to replicate itself.
An immunization for hepatitis B automatically protects you from hepatitis D as well. People who inject drugs should always use their own syringe - which also offers protection from hepatitis B and C, HIV and other infections.
Hepatitis D is identified by a blood test.
There is no reliable treatment for hepatitis D yet.