User:Mightychondrias/expanding draft

Symptoms and Diagnosis
There is both acute and chronic HDV that can occur. Acute HDV is caused by coinfection of both Hepatitis B (HBV) and Hepatitis D (HDV) at the same time, and chronic HDV is caused by someone that already has HBV getting HDV later on. Each of these yield different symptoms. An acute HDV virus can cause more mild symptoms such as dark urine, depleting appetite, vomiting, and nausea or more severe and sudden forms of acute HDV symptoms. The more severe forms of HDV symptoms include fulminant hepatic failure (acute liver failure). However, acute HDV rarely results in a chronic condition. In 70-90% of people, HDV being superinfected with chronic HBV speeds up the process of getting cirrhosis which is the severe stage of thickening of tissues in the liver due to scarring from HDV. Cirrhosis symptoms include weight loss, itching skin, abdomen swelling, and weakness.

One should be considered for Hepatitis D testing if they are showing the various symptoms of Hepatitis D or live in the same residence with someone who has Hepatitis D. Furthermore, those who frequently inject drugs, have tested positive for the surface antigen of Hepatitis B (HBsAg), or frequently come in contact with body fluids should be tested as well. Hepatitis D (HDV) is diagnosed through a blood test that checks for both HDV antibodies such as Immunoglobulin G and Immunoglobulin M and the presence of the HDV RNA in a person's serum. Some doctors may preform a physical exam to check for symptoms of liver damage such as a tender abdomen, skin color changes, and swelling in the body structures from your lower legs down. It is crucial that one should be tested for Hepatitis D because coinfection of HBV and HDV is very serious and could result in liver related death. Although there is a low chance of treatment, there may be ways to lessen the effects of Hepatitis D.