[Non-alcohol-related diseases in alcoholics and their risks]

The frightening increase in alcoholism presents for the general practitioner complex and not always objectively assessable problems. The fact that alcoholics are liable to some not directly alcohol-related diseases, such as suppurative septic processes (primarily pneumonias), tuberculosis, ulceration and its complications, traumatic lesions cannot be enough stressed. Clinical diagnostic data are most unfavourable. The reason of this is the wrong medical attitude explaining all complaints on the basis of prevailing alcoholism.