Hepatitis D Virus: An Overview for Dentists

Hepatitis D is considered to be the most severe form of viral hepatitis. This virus requires hepatitis B for its life cycle and it is estimated that at least 5% of hepatitis B virus infected patients are also infected with hepatitis D, counting for 15 million infections worldwide most optimistically. Hepatitis D has a similar transmission pattern to hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. However, there is less information about the virus of hepatitis D than about the other agents of viral hepatitis. In particular, there is total lack of information on hepatitis D in the setting of dental diseases and management. To our knowledge, there are only few reports on hepatitis D of dental health care workers (DHCW), the association of hepatitis D with oral conditions and on the role of oral fluid in transmission of hepatitis D. The present report reviews current knowledge of hepatitis D for dentists and dental personnel. Therefore, epidemiology, transmission modes, sign and symptoms, diagnostic methods and treatment options of hepatitis D are discussed under relevant subheadings.