Hepatitis D, HDV is a subviral satellite that is not classified in a viral family. Dr. Mario Rizzeto identified in 1977 a nuclear antigen that was subsequently established to derive form what was named Hepatitis Delta Virus ()This is the only virus under the genus deltavirus (Hepatitis D Virus, 2005). The history of this interesting unique satellite small virus is short and therefore researches are still searching for possible new genotypes and prevention and treatment methods.
The new satellite virus was established to depend entirely on the Hepatitis B Virus for its production and transmission. HDV depends on the Hepatitis B surface antigen provided by the HBV that the former uses to form its envelope of particles (Handa, Yamaguchi, 2006). Although HDV is considered as a satellite virus of HBV, it does not present the same sequence as the later and it its replication is not dependent on the HBV (Hepatitis D Virus, Classification).
The disease may be transmitted through infected blood and blood products, infected needles, through birth (from mother to new born) and through sexual relations, with increased risks of infection in male homosexual relations in males infected with HBV (World Health Organization, 2009; Stanford University Website, 2005).
The incubation period for the BDV lasts between 3 and 7 weeks. After this period, the symptoms of the disease are: nausea, lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and they are non-specific (Stanford Univ. website, 2005). The next phase will add dark urine and stool that has a light color, indicating that the liver is not able...
It is primarily transmitted from patients to healthcare workers through exposure to infected blood by mistakes in procedures involving sharp instruments and needles. For this reason, healthcare workers are routinely vaccinated against blood-borne Hepatitis (Taylor, 2005). It is also possible to acquire HBV infection through sexual intercourse and especially through injection of intravenous drugs because IV drug users often share needles. While there is no cure for HBV infection, diagnosis is
Hepatitis A Causative agent Virus Affects the liver Symptomatic 2-6 weeks after exposure Speaker notes: Hepatitis A is caused by a virus. Symptoms of hepatitis A include dark-colored urine, pale stools, chronic fatigue (with no other explanation), itching, anorexia (loss of appetite) and nausea, fever, vomiting, and jaundice. The symptoms usually present manifest 2-6 weeks after the initial exposure (Zieve 2011). To test for the disease, the doctor may test for raised IgM and IgG
Hepatitis C Treatments: Their Link to Depression and Implications for the Social Worker The most commonly used treatment for patients suffering from Hepatitis C, a deadly liver disease, is the drug interferon combined with ribavirin. This treatment offers the most promise for a long-term positive prognosis. However, it has a known high rate for negative psychological side effects such as depression and other anxiety disorders. Clinical psychology can offer some solutions
Hepatitis C What is the leading cause of liver disease? What could cause so many people to require liver transplants? Most people on the street today would think that the answer to those questions would be alcoholism. And, although alcohol does do its fair share of damage to livers around the world, there is a greater source causing chronic liver disease out there. This term paper will attempt to shed light on
Hepatitis C and Cellular Biology Hepatitis C is a virus that affects over 2% of the global population (Belon & Frick, 2009). It is a virus that leads to chronic liver disease, and has many complications, including cirrhosis, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (Belon & Frick, 2009), and it is the leading cause of liver transplantation among countries in the developed world (Whidby et al., 2009). Hepatitis C establishes and maintains a
The doctor said that I'm pretty healthy now, although I was bedridden for about two weeks during which time I changed my diet substantially to eat more fruits and vegetables and less red meat per the advice of the physician. I have also substantially increased my fluids intake -- I now drink eight glasses of water a day. The physician told me that for someone with my degree of
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