Mel
5-10-05, 2:11 PM
From ESPN
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2057132
New Jersey Devils left wing Patrik Elias has a severe case of hepatitis A, but is confident he will recover and play hockey again, the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Tuesday.
Elias, who had been playing in Russia during the NHL lockout, was told by doctors in the Czech Republic that he likely contracted the disease, which infects and can damage the liver, from food he ate.
"I'm not worried, but the doctors obviously are," Elias told The Star-Ledger Monday in his first interview since being hospitalized for a month in the Czech Republic. "The doctors told me they had a patient in the same hospital a year ago with a case of hepatitis A that was not as bad as mine. His liver gave out on him and he died. So..."
According to the paper, an estimated 100 people die each year in the United States from acute liver failure caused by hepatitis A, but that is an unlikely scenario for a 29-year-old professional athlete such as Elias.
Elias has returned to New Jersey, where he will be examined next week by doctors recommended by the Devils. Doctors in the Czech Republic and the United States anticipate that Elias can fully recover from the virus with three to six months of rest and a healthy diet.
It is not yet known whether Elias, if he does recover, would be ready if the NHL settled its labor dispute in time to open training camps in September.
"You never know how long it will take, but Patrik had a pretty serious case," said Elias' agent, Todd Diamond. "It's possible he wouldn't be ready for camp. Basically, he can do nothing while they check the blood count.
"At first when he took short walks, he'd be winded. Slowly he's getting better. Until he has his strength back and he's the person he was before, obviously there is concern."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2057132
New Jersey Devils left wing Patrik Elias has a severe case of hepatitis A, but is confident he will recover and play hockey again, the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger reported Tuesday.
Elias, who had been playing in Russia during the NHL lockout, was told by doctors in the Czech Republic that he likely contracted the disease, which infects and can damage the liver, from food he ate.
"I'm not worried, but the doctors obviously are," Elias told The Star-Ledger Monday in his first interview since being hospitalized for a month in the Czech Republic. "The doctors told me they had a patient in the same hospital a year ago with a case of hepatitis A that was not as bad as mine. His liver gave out on him and he died. So..."
According to the paper, an estimated 100 people die each year in the United States from acute liver failure caused by hepatitis A, but that is an unlikely scenario for a 29-year-old professional athlete such as Elias.
Elias has returned to New Jersey, where he will be examined next week by doctors recommended by the Devils. Doctors in the Czech Republic and the United States anticipate that Elias can fully recover from the virus with three to six months of rest and a healthy diet.
It is not yet known whether Elias, if he does recover, would be ready if the NHL settled its labor dispute in time to open training camps in September.
"You never know how long it will take, but Patrik had a pretty serious case," said Elias' agent, Todd Diamond. "It's possible he wouldn't be ready for camp. Basically, he can do nothing while they check the blood count.
"At first when he took short walks, he'd be winded. Slowly he's getting better. Until he has his strength back and he's the person he was before, obviously there is concern."