At least one in every 10 Indians suffers from a liver disease. Twenty percent of about 10 crore such people are diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and face the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer. Doctors say fatalities from such diseases can be averted by taking precautionary measures.
The major causes of a deteriorating liver are viral infections, namely Hepatitis B and C, deposition of excess fat and alcoholism. Doctors warn that seemingly healthy people can harbour Hepatitis B or C virus in the body for as long as 10-15 years before the liver starts showing symptoms of degeneration. Vaccination against the virus is, therefore, a must. Three shots of vaccines taken over a span of six months provide a person immunity against contracting Hepatitis B. However, Hepatitis C has to be prevented by avoiding unsafe blood transfusion and infection through bodily fluids.
Doctors say a patient should look out for stark symptoms of end-stage liver disease, including the yellowing of skin due to jaundice, accumulation of water in the abdomen and vomiting of blood. Liver is a non-complaining organ. It is too late to track liver problems unless preventive health checkups are done.
Only 10-15% of liver cirrhosis patients who develop end-stage liver disease need organ transplants.
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