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Our liver always suffers from soft warning signs of contagious hepatitis
Around 325 million people worldwide suffer from chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C. The liver inflammation often goes unnoticed for a long time, as the organ does not hurt when it is inflamed. If the disease is not treated, it can lead to a shrinking liver or liver cancer. Therefore, it is important to know which symptoms may indicate a diseased liver.
Increased treatment against hepatitis infections
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 325 million people worldwide are infected with chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C. However, many of those affected do not know about their liver inflammation. Every year about 1.34 million patients die of the dangerous disease. WHO has now called for increased action against hepatitis B and C infections at the launch of the World Hepatitis Report.
Worldwide, around 325 million people suffer from hepatitis B or C. However, many do not know about their liver inflammation. Vaccines and medicines are available against the disease. (Image: Guido Grochowski / fotolia.com) The liver suffers mute
In Germany alone, about half a million people have viral hepatitis. However, the liver suffers dangerously quiet, which is why many do not know for a long time about their disease.
The symptoms of liver inflammation are often nonspecific. A simple check of the liver values as part of a routine check at the family doctor can quickly clarify here.
In healthy people, the disease usually heals after a while by itself. However, for older, ailing or concomitantly burdened people, the infection can be a risk to health.
Chronic viral hepatitis can lead to long-term consequences such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer and thus end in death.
Recognizing hepatitis in good time can even be lifesaving in exceptional cases.
Hepatitis usually causes flu-like symptoms at the beginning
In hepatitis, depending on the type of virus different symptoms may occur, but at the beginning usually show more general symptoms such as fatigue, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, fever and vomiting.
Later, other typical signs such as dark urine, a light bowel movement and yellow eyes or skin ("jaundice") may be added.
Hepatitis C can be cured
Although, for example, hepatitis C could almost always be cured, chronic virus infection, according to the WHO, is still a huge, global problem.
"Viral hepatitis represents a major public health challenge that requires an urgent response," said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan according to a message.
"There are hepatitis vaccines and medicines available to fight hepatitis, and WHO is committed to ensuring that those medicines reach everyone they need."
Europe hardest hit
According to the information, the organization focuses on chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C because these infections account for 96 percent of deaths.
Europe is most affected by hepatitis C infections behind the Eastern Mediterranean region, from Afghanistan to Yemen.
"In more countries, there are hepatitis services for people in need," said Gottfried Hirnschall, head of the WHO hepatitis program. "But the data makes it clear that the gaps in testing and treatment must be closed."
According to the expert, there is a successful vaccination against hepatitis B and for hepatitis C a three-month treatment that costs about $ 200, which heals the infected.
In Germany, an increasing number of hepatitis E infections were reported recently. The reason for the infection is in many cases the consumption of infected pork.
Experts from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) have pointed out that consumers can significantly reduce the risk of infection with the hepatitis E virus by "uniformly and completely heating the food through cooking or frying". (Ad)