ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment


What is Alcoholic Hepatitis


Alcoholic hepatitis describes liver inflammation caused by drinking alcohol. Although alcoholic hepatitis is most likely to occur in alcoholics over the years, but the consumption of alcohol and alcoholic hepatitis have a complex relationship. Not all alcoholics suffer from alcoholic hepatitis, and the disease can also occur in people who only drink a little. If you have been diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis, this can mean a total stop drinking alcohol. People who continue to drink alcohol can continue to exacerbate more serious liver damage is cirrhosis and liver failure.

Causes of Alcoholic Hepatitis


Alcoholic hepatitis occurs when the liver is damaged by alcohol has been consumed. Mechanisms of how alcohol can cause liver damage in alcoholics are not known clearly. Solving process is ethanol alcohol contained in beer, wine and liquor can produce highly toxic chemicals, such as acetaldehyde. These chemicals trigger inflammation that destroys liver cells. Then the healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue caused by inflammation of the wound. It will interfere with the liver's ability to function properly. Scarring is irreversible damage called cirrhosis, is the final stage of alcoholic hepatitis.

Symptoms of Alcoholic Hepatitis

ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Mild form of alcoholic hepatitis may not cause a real problem, but the progression of the disease will lead to more broken heart, signs and symptoms that may occur include:
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain and pain puzzle
  • Skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow (jaundice)
  • Fever
  • Abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation (ascites)
  • Tiredness
Consult your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis. If you ever feel as if unable to control drinking, then consult your doctor.

Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment


  • Stop drinking alcohol - If you have been diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis, then it should stop drinking alcohol. It's the only way to stop the damage to the liver or to halt the progression of the disease from getting worse. If you continue to drink alcohol, then it is likely to experience serious complications. If it is with alcohol dependence and want to quit, the doctor may recommend therapy, adapted to the conditions of dependency. The therapy may include medications, counseling, etc.
  • Therapy for malnutrition - Your doctor may recommend a special diet to improve nutritional deficiencies that can occur in people with alcoholic hepatitis. Doctors can refer to a nutritionist who can help assess current eating patterns and suggest changes to increase the vitamins and nutrients.
  • Medication to reduce the inflammation of the liver - Patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis can consider the short-term treatment with drugs to reduce inflammation of the liver. In certain situations, the doctor may recommend corticosteroids or pentoxifylline.
  • Liver transplantation - When severely impaired liver function, liver transplantation may be the only option for some people. Although liver transplantation is often successful, the number of people needing a transplant far exceeds the number of organs available. Some health centers may be reluctant to perform liver transplantation in patients with alcoholic hepatitis because chances are most will return to consume alcohol after surgery.


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