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One in Ten Canadians Have Some Form of Liver Disease, Serious Lack of Understanding Re: Hepatitis |
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Written by Wire Services
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Friday, 24 March 2006 |
More than 50% of Canadians are not aware that hepatitis is a form of liver disease and more than half mistakenly believe they are at low risk or have no risk at all of contracting hepatitis, according to a new survey commissioned by the Canadian Liver Foundation.
In Canada, one in 10 people has a liver disease and more than half a million people currently have a form of viral hepatitis. According to the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), the rate of hepatitis is rising as is chronic liver disease. For this reason, there is a worldwide need for more research to develop better prevention and treatment methods.
"The results of this survey are dramatic because many people are not even aware they have a form of hepatitis until serious liver damage has occurred," notes Gary Fagan, president, Canadian Liver Foundation. "It is clear that more education is required to ensure Canadians have a better understanding of the seriousness of hepatitis, the risks associated with it and how to reduce their chances of contracting it."
Asked to define hepatitis, fewer than half were aware it is a form of liver disease, 31% of Canadians believe it is a blood-borne infection, 10% think it is a sexually transmitted disease, and four% believe it is a form of food poisoning. Nearly one in 10 Canadians could not define hepatitis at all.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a variety of factors, including: viruses, alcohol, obesity, chemicals including medications or your own immune system. Viral hepatitis, such as hepatitis A, B or C, is caused by specific viruses that are transmitted in many ways, for example:
Hepatitis A: by eating or drinking food or water contaminated by fecal matter of an infected individual.
Hepatitis B: by infected blood and body fluids. It is easily transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person and from mother to newborn child.
Hepatitis C: by blood to blood contact with an infected individual including sharing injection needles and drug equipment, tattoos and body piercing using unsterile equipment and sharing personal items like razors or toothbrushes.
"The population in Canada with chronic hepatitis B and C acquired their disease many years ago. In the next decade, unless we are more successful in finding and treating patients, we expect to see rates of cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure to increase two to threefold," says Dr. Morris Sherman, president, Canadian Association for the Study of the Liver. "There is a lack of recognition at federal and provincial levels of government of the magnitude of this problem. With some exceptions, few jurisdictions are doing anything about it. The economic burden resulting from this will be severe."
Survey results indicate that men between the ages of 18 and 34 years are most likely to believe they are at low risk of contracting Hepatitis while women in the same age bracket are most likely to believe they are at high risk. Experts say that this general lack of understanding about the risks of contracting viral hepatitis is alarming when simple measures can be taken to avoid being infected including not sharing needles, razor blades and toothbrushes, washing your hands after using the washroom, the use of sterile tattooing and piercing equipment, and practicing safe sex.
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