Liver failure is a condition that occurs when the liver is damaged so that it is no longer able to perform its functions. It can also occur when hepatitis, diabetes and certain toxic substances such as toxins are not treated for a long time. While symptoms such as fatigue, weakness and blood in the stool can be seen, it is important that treatment is done early and quickly. People may be kept under observation in hospital.
It can be caused by liver cancer or cirrhosis, when the liver is unable to function. These are life-threatening conditions. There are 2 types of this common condition: acute and chronic. The disease that develops suddenly is called acute, while the disease that progresses over time and develops over a long period of time is called chronic.
Symptoms of Liver Failure
Symptoms of liver failure occur when the liver loses some or all of its function. Symptoms may vary depending on the condition of the disease and whether it is chronic or acute. Common symptoms can be listed as follows:
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Itching of the skin
- Appetite and weight loss
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Jaundice
- Loss of consciousness
- Blood in the stool
- Impaired perception and inability to express oneself
- Dark color in urine
What Causes Liver Failure?
There are many causes of the disease. Among these; Hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis, long-term excessive alcohol consumption, vascular occlusion, nutritional disorders, biliary diseases, hereditary diseases, metabolic diseases, toxic drugs used for a long time, consumption of poisonous mushrooms, Wilson's disease, toxin accumulation, viruses and fatty liver.
There are also some precautions to be taken to protect against this disease. This can be prevented by avoiding certain diseases, medications and improper nutrition.
Hepatitis vaccination can prevent the possibility of hepatitis and viral disease. Hepatitis is transmitted through blood and secretions. This is why personal products should only be products that you use.
While there is a possibility that this disease may occur as a result of toxic drug use, the dosage of drugs should be taken carefully under the control of a doctor and according to the recommendation written in the package insert.
It is important for people who consume alcohol to quit and not consume alcohol. People who have difficulty in quitting should not consume too much and excessive consumption. People who consume alcohol excessively are a risk factor.
It should not be forgotten that some mushrooms can be poisonous. If you are not an expert and do not have an expert with you, you should not consume mushroom species that you do not know. It is difficult to distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous species such as wild mushrooms. This is why such mushrooms should be avoided.
People who are overweight and in the obesity class are at risk of many diseases, as well as liver diseases. Even if they do not consume alcohol, the liver of these people can become fat in proportion to their weight. Therefore, a healthy diet and a balanced weight should be taken care of.
Diagnosis of Liver Failure
A number of biochemical tests are performed to examine the function of the liver. These tests are performed by specialized doctors to diagnose and diagnose the disease.
If the doctor deems it necessary to diagnose and diagnose liver failure, the liver can be examined with imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or MRI.
These imaging methods check the functional status of the organ. In some cases, a biopsy may also be performed to determine the diagnosis.
Treatment of Liver Failure
While there is no proven, definitive cure for the disease, treatment is usually aimed at identifying the conditions that cause the disease and reducing their effects. For example, antiviral drugs are given to treat the disease caused by hepatitis.
In some cases, the situation can be reversed and recovery can be achieved. In these cases, medication and lifestyle changes are important.
In severe and progressive cases, the organ is irreversibly damaged in terms of its structure. In these cases, a suitable organ is found and transplantation is performed.
However, there is a detailed research process before transplantation. This research and examination looks at the individual's family history of the disease, the state of the damage to the organ and whether there is a condition that will prevent transplantation.
The most common cause of death in cases is infections. Poor post-transplant care can jeopardize this process and cause inflammation. In order to prevent such situations, it is important to apply supportive treatments before and after transplantation.
Supportive treatment includes medication, balancing the fluid ratio, preventing the risk of blood clotting and providing the appropriate diet for the person.