Table of contents:
- What is liver failure?
- 1. Acute liver failure
- 2. Chronic liver failure
- What are the symptoms of liver failure?
- What are the treatments for liver failure?
The liver is an organ large enough to neutralize toxins, as well as help the body fight infection. That is why it is important to keep the liver functioning optimally. There are various conditions that you can experience when its function is disturbed, one of which is liver failure. So, what are the treatments that can be done to treat liver failure so that it doesn't get worse?
What is liver failure?
Liver failure is a condition when the liver is damaged so that it cannot work properly. This disease can develop gradually over a period of several years. But do not rule out, the severity of liver failure can take place very quickly even without being detected beforehand.
On that basis, liver failure should not be taken lightly and requires immediate medical treatment before it is life threatening.
When viewed in general, there are two types of liver failure based on its severity:
1. Acute liver failure
The process of disease progression in acute liver failure is fairly rapid. In this condition, liver function can be impaired for days or even weeks. This type of liver failure can appear without any symptoms.
Various things can cause acute liver failure, such as exposure to the hepatitis A, B, or C viruses, and taking too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) medication.
2. Chronic liver failure
While the development of chronic liver failure takes a much slower time than acute liver failure. It can take months or even years before you experience symptoms of liver failure that require treatment.
This condition is usually caused by cirrhosis of the liver, which is liver damage that results in scarring / scarring. Usually caused by various things, namely frequent drinking of alcohol that has been going on for a long time, having hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hemochromatosis, and malnutrition, also contributing to chronic liver failure.
When your liver failure is chronic, it means that your liver is inflamed. Over time, this inflammation then forms scar tissue that disrupts the normal functioning of the liver.
What are the symptoms of liver failure?
If you have liver failure, there will be a variety of distinctive symptoms that indicate you need treatment as soon as possible. The following are symptoms of liver failure in the body:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Decreased appetite
- Jaundice or jaundice, which makes your skin and eyes turn yellow
- Itchy skin that makes it easy to bruise and bleed
- Buildup of fluid in the legs (edema)
- Buildup of fluid in the stomach (ascites)
Unfortunately, not everyone experiences symptoms of liver failure until it is detected when the progression worsens. That is why it is important to understand your condition well, and immediately consult a doctor so that treatment for liver failure can be given immediately.
What are the treatments for liver failure?
Treatment for liver failure will usually be adjusted according to the severity you are experiencing. If liver failure is detected early enough, the doctor can find out the root cause to determine the appropriate treatment method.
If your liver failure is caused by taking too much acetaminophen, the dose will be gradually reduced. The doctor may also prescribe the drug acetylcysteine, to treat conditions caused by an overdose of acetaminophen and treat liver failure.
Another thing, if liver failure is caused by exposure to a virus, your doctor will usually recommend that you be treated temporarily in the hospital until the symptoms improve. Meanwhile, for the condition of liver failure that is enough to damage the normal work of the liver, treatment is more aimed at saving the part of the liver that can still function.
However, in some cases, your doctor may recommend that you undergo a liver transplant. This condition inevitably has to be done as the only last treatment, when liver failure has become too severe.
The liver transplant process is done by removing the damaged liver, then replacing it with a donor liver.
In addition to these several ways, doctors can help control symptoms while preventing complications from liver failure by carrying out the following treatments:
- Minimizing the pressure due to the buildup of excess fluid in the brain, by using drugs.
- Perform screening to detect possible infection. Your blood and urine samples will be taken for further examination.
- Take medication to reduce the risk of bleeding. Blood transfusions can also be given when too much blood has been lost.
Therefore, it is important to detect changes in the body's condition as early as possible in order to get treatment as soon as possible if any disturbances in body functions are found.
x
