Infections with hepatitis virus is among the main causes of severe liver diseases. Over 1 million people in Germany suffer from a chronic infection with hepatitis C or B viruses (HCV and HBV), chronic infections can lead to life threatening liver cirrhosis and liver cell carcinoma (HCC).
A sharp increase in liver tumors in the last 3 years has been associated with HCV infection. Severe liver disease are mostly prevented with the help of modern diagnostic and treatment methods with very good healing chances. The effected patients usually present late which is attributed to uncharacteristic symptoms of liver diseases. Additionally false rumours about the cause and treatment modalities of liver disease are making the rounds these days. A survery conducted by "Deutsche Leberhilfe e.V" (Hep-Net-Study) on hepatitis patients showed widespread unawareness about the modes of infection, prognosis and expectations. Moreover hepatitis is considered to be the disease of drug addicts and alcoholics. "Ignorance associated with such disease whose symptoms are mostly unspecific can be fatal for the patient despite the modern medical and pharmaceutical advances", says Professor Zeuzem.
"The spectrum of causes for liver diseases is very complex and we must take other factors such as social phenomenon and trends into consideration besides medical factors", he further adds. Social factors such as dietary habits, exposure to medication which could lead to fatty liver hepatitis, the so called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or to toxic damage to the liver. This also means the rise in chronic virus hepatitis in Germany and world wide.

 

Document Date: 2007/04/24   Author: Ahmed Koujan

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