There are over 100 different forms of liver diseases that affect mankind
Cirrhosis
- Permanent damage or scarring of the liver. This leads to a blockage of blood flow through the liver and prevents normal function of liver
- The major causes are chronic alcoholism, viral infections hepatitis (types B, C and D), obesity Diabeyes,
- Causes Loss of appetite nausea, weight loss, fatigue, weakness, exhaustion.
- Later on it leads to fluid accumulation in the legs (edema) or abdomen (ascites), bleeding and easy bruising, intense itching and Hemetemesis (Blood Vomiting)
- And lasttly it leads to liver failure.
- Diagnosed by scanning, blood tests and endoscopy.
- Treated by medicines (Management of Complication)
- Only hope for cure is Liver transplant.
Fatty Liver Disease
- It is the result of the excess fat in liver cells
- liver becomes vulnerable to further injury, which may result in inflammation and scarring of the liver
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- It is a progressive complex of liver disease which starts with fat accumulation in the liver without excessive alcohol consumption.
- It is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome (obesity + insulin resistance + dyslipidemia)
Liver Cancer or Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC)
- In the early stages, liver cancer does not cause symptoms. Some common symptoms of advanced liver cancer include: weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, jaundice, fluid in the abdomen
- It is detected by Scanning (USG/CT/MRI.
- Treated by Surgery if fit & Chemotherapy
Liver Abscess.
- Causes pain, fever, jaundice.
- Diagnosed by scanning
- Treated with Medicines, placement of tube in the abscess and rarely surgery