Children can be affected by various diseases and problems. related to the liver Let’s talk about liver disease in children, symptoms, warning signs and prevention tips.
liver function
The liver is essential for continued growth and maintenance of health. A balanced diet is essential for the growth and development of every child. The liver helps in digestion and filters harmful or toxic substances from the blood. It synthesizes or makes proteins used to build body tissues. store and use energy and promote blood clotting when the liver is damaged The liver may stop functioning completely or only in part.
Liver conditions in children:
There are two main types of liver failure in children:
1. Acute liver failure
This kind of thing happened suddenly. Liver disease can develop in a child who never had it before.
Here are some causes of acute liver failure in children:
- Viruses such as herpes simplex (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), or hepatitis A, B, and E can cause acute liver failure.
- Galactosemia, tyrosemia, hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), Wilson’s disease (high copper in specific areas of the body), and mitochondrial disease are among the disorders. Metabolic inherited through the family.
- Cleaners or solvents, rat poison, insecticides, weed killers, and many wild mushrooms are examples of poisons. toxic doses of paracetamol or certain drugs such as erythromycin and valproic acid
- Low blood perfusion to the liver, for example in congestive heart failure, shock, or embolism.
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2. Chronic liver failure
This usually occurs when a serious liver condition gets significantly worse. either gradually or unexpectedly
Common causes of chronic liver failure in children include:
- chronic hepatitis, such as hepatitis C autoimmune hepatitis and non-alcoholic fatty hepatitis likely the cause of chronic liver problems (a severe form of fatty liver disease)
- Inherited disorders such as cystic fibrosis, alpha-1 deficiency Antitrypsin, or haemochromatosis (too much iron in the body)
- Bile duct illnesses such as biliary stenosis bile duct obstruction (incomplete or obstructed bile duct in infants) and biliary atresia (chronic inflammation of the bile ducts)
Read about the symptoms of liver disease in children:
1. The skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow due to jaundice. caused by bilirubin levels Very high levels of bile pigments (bile pigments) in the blood Because bilirubin is eliminated through the kidneys. Urine is often black, inflammation, abnormal liver cells. and obstruction of the bile ducts are all causes of high bilirubin levels. The loss of large amounts of red blood cells can sometimes lead to jaundice. Babies may find this The initial and probably the only symptom of liver disease is jaundice.
2. Although a slightly enlarged liver is generally asymptomatic But an enlarged liver is generally a sign of liver disease. Abdominal discomfort or feeling of fullness, abdominal pain, or bloating are signs of a severely enlarged liver.
3. Hepatic encephalopathy is characterized by damage to the nervous system and decreased brain function. This is caused by harmful chemicals that are normally eliminated by the liver and deposited in the blood. Logical thinking changes personality and behavior changes mood swings impaired judgment, drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, unsteady gait, unconsciousness, coma, and inability to move
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4. Lack of appetite
5. Intestinal symptoms (vomiting, gray or clay stools, constipation)
6. Bruising/Bleeding
7. Distension (watery or swollen liver)
8. Esophageal varices are dilated blood vessels within the lower wall of the esophagus that are prone to bleeding. Anyone with serious liver disease may develop it. A diseased liver can cause portal hypertension. This is portal vein hypertension. Symptoms of esophageal varices may include:
- Vomiting blood without pain
- black stools or bloody stools
- poor weight gain
- handwriting change
- menstruation in adulthood
- itching
- Nail changes and appearance of fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies, including vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Signs of liver disease include:
- Red patches on the palms (palmar erythema)
- stomach ache
- tremor
- Spider naevi(marks on the skin)
- swollen ears and red stools
When it comes to nutrition for children Pay special attention to vegetables and fruits. Every meal and snack should include a fruit or vegetable. These foods contain fiber, vitamins and minerals that help maintain good bowel habits.
Some measures to prevent liver disease in children include:
- It is very important to include fruits and vegetables in your child’s diet.
- Children are increasingly obese, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. To prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children, we recommend eating a healthy diet. proper proportion control and weight maintenance
- Reduce consumption of refined sugar
- Vaccination against viruses that can harm the liver, such as hepatitis A and B, should be vaccinated.
- Liver damage can result from taking toxic amounts of certain substances, herbs, or even certain drugs, such as paracetamol.
