psamson@must.ac.mw

Cirrhosis

Liver disease that involves loss of cells (hepatocytes) and irreversible scaring of the liver,cirrhosis as in itself is not infectious

COMMON CAUSES

  • Viral hepatitis (hep A and hep B)
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Autoimmune hepatitis
  • Infants born without bile ducts
  • Drug induced

    • COMPLICATIONS OF CIRRHOSIS

    • Swelling of the abdomen
    • Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
    • Bleeding from varices
    • Hepatic encephalopathy (shrinking of the brain due to malfunction of the liver)
    • Liver cancer

    SYMPTOMS

    • Yellowing of the skin (jaundice) due to accumulation of bilirubin in the blood
    • Fatigue
    • Weakness
    • Loss of appetite
    • Itching

    DIAGNOSIS

    • Liver biopsy: to determine grade(inflammation) and stage (fibrosis) in chronic hepatitis
    • Use of patients history (to uncover excess and prolonged intake of alcohol)
    • Liver chemistry tests eg the Liver Function Tests
    • Physical observation: jaundice (yellowing of the skin and white part of the eyes)
    • Ascites: swelling of the abdomen

    TREATMENT

    • Preventing further damage of the liver
    • Treating complications of the liver
    • Preventing liver/ detecting it early