- Causes of acute liver failure
- Treatment for acute liver failure
- Acute paracetamol hepatitis
- Acute hepatitis in childhood
- Acute and chronic hepatitis
Acute liver failure is a serious disease that causes liver destruction and if a liver transplant is not performed urgently, it can lead to serious complications such as brain damage, changes in blood clotting and death.
Causes of acute liver failure
The most frequent causes of acute liver failure are:
- Viruses: it is the most common cause, especially the hepatitis virus; Medicines: paracetamol, amiodarone, isoniazid, tetracyclines, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants; Drug use: ecstasy, cocaine; Exposure to industrial chemical agents; History of cancer: lymphoma, carcinoma; Mushroom poisoning.
Other causes of acute liver failure are related to autoimmune hepatitis and unknown causes.
Treatment for acute liver failure
Treatment for acute liver failure consists of the following procedures:
- Referral to hospital emergency services as soon as symptoms such as malaise, nausea, vomiting and yellow skin are detected; Identification of the causes: if they have treatment, start as soon as possible; Internment in intensive care: for intensive monitoring in order to avoid complications.
As this is an urgent case, especially if it is fulminant hepatitis, the hospital that receives the patient in the emergency room, should contact a transplant unit, for eventual liver transplantation, in case there is no contraindication.
Acute paracetamol hepatitis
Acute acetaminophen hepatitis is an intoxication caused by intentional or unintentional acetaminophen taking. It is more common in more developed countries and treatment is based on the administration of N-acetylcysteine in order to prevent or reduce liver damage.
Acute hepatitis in childhood
Acute hepatitis in childhood is inflammation of the liver usually caused by the hepatitis A virus, which can be transmitted by contact with feces, food or contaminated water.
If the child has not been vaccinated against the hepatitis virus in the first year of life, it should be referred immediately to the pediatrician. Possibly the first dose of the vaccine and an injection of immunoglobulin will be indicated.
Acute and chronic hepatitis
Acute hepatitis is a highly contagious inflammation of the liver, which can be caused mainly by viruses, causing poor appetite, malaise, nausea, vomiting and fever. If it is not treated properly within 6 months, hepatitis will become chronic, and may have more serious consequences such as cirrhosis, liver cancer and death.
