Liver diseases identified as Europe’s silent killers

LIVER diseases have become a silent killer in Europe, and are now responsible for more than one in six deaths in the European Union.

More than 10 million people in the region suffer from viral hepatitis alone but many of them will not even be aware of it, according to medical experts.

The European association for the study of the liver want the European Union to launch a public awareness campaign especially about viral hepatitis.

Professor Jean-Michel Pawlotsky told members of the European Parliament yesterday that viral hepatitis is one of the most common and lift-threatening communicable diseases in Europe, and yet it seems to have been forgotten by governments.

“It has become a silent killer because of the large and increasing number of individuals who carry hepatitis B or C, but have not been tested and are so unaware of their condition.

“Without treatment, viral hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death,” he said.

The condition should be recognised as an urgent health priority with awareness campaigns, primary prevention measures, earlier diagnosis and better management of the disease, said Prof Pawlotsky.

Viruses as well as unhealthy diet and excessive alcohol consumption can cause hepatitis or inflammation of the liver.

Hepatitis B and C are the most common forms of the disease and are transmitted by blood through transfusions, tattoos, drug injections or sexually.

In many cases the infection does not have any symptoms and so it can remain undiagnosed.

But if untreated hepatitis B and C can develop into live-threatening diseases including cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The latest statistics for liver disease in Ireland are for 2005 and show that the number of hepatitis B notifications continued to increase with 905 cases reported in 2005, compared with 724 cases in 2004.

Hepatitis C notifications also increased with 1,439 cases reported, the majority in young adults. It can be prevented by vaccination.

The health protection surveillance centre said the big increases were partly due to better screening programmes over the past few years and an influx of people from other countries where there is a high incidence.