An inflamed liver is a disorder that presents few indicators. You often don't understand it's there. This article describes the causes of an inflamed liver and why it can be a cause for concern.
Inflammation of the liver is a disorder that is also called hepatitis.
There are a number of different types of liver inflammation. The most common type of liver inflammation is caused by a virus and is therefore known as a viral infection. These infections can either be acute or chronic. Hepatitis that results from a viral infection is characterized by letters of the alphabet, like hepatitis A or hepatitis B. These viruses have medical names of course, but they're usually shortened to abbreviations like HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV.
Hepatitis B and C can be markedly dangerous, possibly leading to serious, even life-threatening diseases like cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Intemperate use of alcohol results in more cases of liver inflammation than any other cause. Alcohol is a toxin that has an insidious effect on the liver when used excessively and over a long period of time. It will eventually produce inflammation, and inflammation can eventually produce cirrhosis. There are approximately three times as many cases of hepatitis caused by alcohol overuse as there are cases of hepatitis C.
You can also get an inflamed liver from certain drugs and chemicals. There are a number of chemicals and drugs that can lead to an inflamed liver too. This even includes legal drugs, like pain medications, which can be overused or improperly used. The level of damage caused by drugs and chemicals, of course, depends on the drugs used, dosage, duration and general health of the user. Use of illegal drugs is always dangerous.
Various diseases are also the cause of an inflamed liver. Some of these diseases are related to the liver, but others aren't. Two such disorders that are relatively common are Wilson's disease and hemachromatosis. Wilson's disease is symptomatic of excessive copper accumulation in the body, while hemachromatosis is characterized by an abnormal build up of iron. An inflamed liver can also result from autoimmune disorders, yellow fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Liver inflammation signs will be different from case to case, depending mostly on the cause. But there are four that typically appear, often in combination.
Jaundice is a primary and virtually unmistakeable synptom. Jaundice causes the skin and the whites of the eyes to look noticeably yellow. Because of this discoloration, many people call this condition yellow jaundice.
Loss of appetite followed by weight loss are usually indications of hepatitis too. This liver inflammation symptom is particularly common with forms of acute hepatitis. Bouts of nausea and vomiting are likely to appear too.
Constant fatigue and a lack of energy are also typical when you have inflammation of the liver. This is logical because your metabolism is largely controlled by your liver. If your liver isn't functioning properly, your energy levels are bound to be affected. You're also likely to feel weak.
Muscle and joint pain is another of the most common signs of hepatitis. The soreness could continue for several days and even go on for weeks.
Besides the muscle and joint tenderness mentioned above, you might feel pain in the area of the liver itself. In fact, pain could reach as high as the right shoulder. This pain will vary depending on how far the inflammation has progressed.
Treatment for viral hepatitis is usually unnecessary due to the fact that it heals on its own in time. Certain medications and antivirals may be useful for hepatitis B and C. Medications known as interferon and ribavirin are often used in such cases. Patients who have various forms of autoimmune hepatitis are usually given corticosteroids.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with liver inflammation should avoid drinking alcohol and not take drugs or medication of any kind without consulting a doctor.
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