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Children 'risking liver disease' | Children 'risking liver disease' |
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Excessive drinking by children and teenagers is storing up a time bomb of health problems, a charity has warned. | Excessive drinking by children and teenagers is storing up a time bomb of health problems, a charity has warned. |
The British Liver Trust says it fears the amount children are drinking is rising despite a slight dip in the numbers who are actually drinking. | The British Liver Trust says it fears the amount children are drinking is rising despite a slight dip in the numbers who are actually drinking. |
This is putting them at risk of liver disease and liver cancer as they enter their 20s and 30s, the trust says. | This is putting them at risk of liver disease and liver cancer as they enter their 20s and 30s, the trust says. |
New figures show 49 people in their 20s died in 2006 from alcohol-related liver failure - the highest number on record. | New figures show 49 people in their 20s died in 2006 from alcohol-related liver failure - the highest number on record. |
Jaundice | Jaundice |
The figures released by the Office of National Statistics also showed 40% more young people aged between 25 and 29 died from liver disease in 2006 than in the previous year. | The figures released by the Office of National Statistics also showed 40% more young people aged between 25 and 29 died from liver disease in 2006 than in the previous year. |
Doctors and health campaigners fear these figures could rise over the coming years as children drink more. | Doctors and health campaigners fear these figures could rise over the coming years as children drink more. |
Until recently, cirrhosis of the liver, a condition brought on by long-term alcohol abuse, mainly affected older men. | Until recently, cirrhosis of the liver, a condition brought on by long-term alcohol abuse, mainly affected older men. |
But now doctors are seeing it in men and women in their 20s brought on by excessive drinking. | But now doctors are seeing it in men and women in their 20s brought on by excessive drinking. |
The week that she passed away, she had liver disease, kidney failure, a hole in her stomach where the alcohol had rotted her stomach Louise Rhymes, on her daughter Stacey | The week that she passed away, she had liver disease, kidney failure, a hole in her stomach where the alcohol had rotted her stomach Louise Rhymes, on her daughter Stacey |
Professor Ian Gilmour, of the Royal College of Physicians, said: "We are sadly seeing young people in their 20s coming in with jaundice, with swollen bellies because their liver won't process liquids. | Professor Ian Gilmour, of the Royal College of Physicians, said: "We are sadly seeing young people in their 20s coming in with jaundice, with swollen bellies because their liver won't process liquids. |
"These people didn't make a conscious decision to kill themselves." | "These people didn't make a conscious decision to kill themselves." |
Louise Rhymes, who lost her 24-year-old daughter to long-term alcohol abuse earlier this year, said Stacey had been drinking heavily since her teens. | Louise Rhymes, who lost her 24-year-old daughter to long-term alcohol abuse earlier this year, said Stacey had been drinking heavily since her teens. |
"By the time she was 18, she was drinking every night, probably five litres. She would drink until she'd got none left. | "By the time she was 18, she was drinking every night, probably five litres. She would drink until she'd got none left. |
"The week that she passed away, she had liver disease, kidney failure, a hole in her stomach where the alcohol had rotted her stomach. They told us there was nothing else they could do." | "The week that she passed away, she had liver disease, kidney failure, a hole in her stomach where the alcohol had rotted her stomach. They told us there was nothing else they could do." |
Imogen Shillito, the British Liver Trust's director of information and education, said she was worried about the amounts children were drinking. | Imogen Shillito, the British Liver Trust's director of information and education, said she was worried about the amounts children were drinking. |
"The burden on their developing bodies is even greater," she said. | "The burden on their developing bodies is even greater," she said. |
"It means we are storing up a ticking time bomb for the future. As they grow up in their 20s and 30s they could be putting themselves at risk of really serious liver disease and liver cancer. | "It means we are storing up a ticking time bomb for the future. As they grow up in their 20s and 30s they could be putting themselves at risk of really serious liver disease and liver cancer. |
"This is the progression of the epidemic we and the medical profession have been predicting for several years. | "This is the progression of the epidemic we and the medical profession have been predicting for several years. |
"We continue to ignore the signs of developing liver disease in younger and younger people and earlier deaths are now reality." | "We continue to ignore the signs of developing liver disease in younger and younger people and earlier deaths are now reality." |
She said the latest figures reinforced the charity's call for urgent work to improve early diagnosis and encourage prevention and a national framework to support the NHS. | She said the latest figures reinforced the charity's call for urgent work to improve early diagnosis and encourage prevention and a national framework to support the NHS. |