Symptoms of cirrhosis in children

Cirrhosis of the liver is a progressive liver disease characterized by scarring in the liver tissue. With the accumulation of scars, the blood circulation in the liver decreases and is difficult to do, which affects the functions of the liver, including its ability to treat nutrients and eliminate toxins from the body. When the liver stops working and the child will need a liver transplant.

Although the healthy liver has a remarkable ability to repair itself, according to the website "children's hospital"However, chronic liver disease can lead to cirrhosis of the liver.

In very young children, cirrhosis is often due to a genetic problem such as obstruction of the bile ducts, while in older children, a disease such as autoimmune hepatitis can cause cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis in children

Cirrhosis of the liver is the most serious stage of liver scarring. If it is not treated, cirrhosis can lead to serious complications such as:

Renal failure.

Malnutrition.

Diabetes.

Liver cancer.

Children with fibrosis who have bruises and who bleed easily are more likely to be infected than other children.

Cirrhosis in children

What is the liver and what does it do in the body

The liver is the second largest body organ located in the abdominal cavity. It helps the liver body in many ways:

Produce proteins that allow the blood to clot naturally, transfer oxygen and strengthen the immune system.

Product of yellow matter, a substance that helps digest food.

Helps clean the blood of harmful substances.

Helps to control the levels of sugar and cholesterol in the blood.

Symptoms of cirrhosis in children

Symptoms of cirrhosis in children

Cirrhosis is a chronic disease that requires ongoing medical monitoring and lifelong treatment.

Cirrhosis often does not produce any early symptoms, although cirrhosis may have symptoms associated with the underlying medical condition that causes liver damage. However, as cirrhosis progresses, the child may experience the following symptoms:

Anorexia.

Nausea or vomiting.

Weight loss or difficulty gaining weight

Abdominal pain or swelling.

Appearance of blood vessels on the skin, similar to a spider.

Over time, cirrhosis can lead to serious additional problems, including:

Yellowing of the skin or whiteness of the eye.

Easily bleeds from the nose.

Swelling in the legs or the abdomen is called ascites.

Confusion or difficulty thinking (encephalopathy) caused by the accumulation of food residues in the blood.

Renal failure.

Symptoms of cirrhosis in children 1

Because the blood can not easily cross the liver if cirrhosis of the liver, the pressure in the vein that enters the liver, called the portal vein called this condition can increase papillary hypertension, and can cause its own symptoms and complications.

The increase in blood pressure in the papillary vein can affect blood circulation in the lungs, causing:

Liver Syndrome: A rare condition that prevents the lungs from providing oxygen to the rest of the body.

Varicose veins of the esophagus: or swollen or swollen veins on the wall of the tube that connects the throat to the stomach.