June 28, 2015
Multiple causes for Maori liver disease
Health professionals are being told to drop their prejudices when encountering Maori with cirrhosis and just treat the liver condition.
The editor of the Maori Health Review, Dr Matire Harwood, says cirrhosis is widely associated with alcohol abuse, which means that many health professionals go into a consultation with the mindset that the patient brought it upon themselves,
But a new study has found that in New Zealand other factors contribute to the high rate of the disease in Maori, such as hepatitis B and C as well as the weight gain associated with diabetes.
Dr Harwood says that means addressing hepatitis and diabetes can prevent some Maori getting inflamed livers.
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