Alcoholic hepatitis

Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis are very similar to all other manifestations of hepatitis, and they can be difficult to identify immediately. However, if alcoholic hepatitis is diagnosed at an early stage, the liver can be completely restored, so it is important to know the symptoms of this disease.

What is alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation or swelling of the liver caused by alcohol.

When symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis appear, the best option is to stop drinking immediately. Otherwise, additional health problems may appear: cirrhosis of the liver, bleeding and, ultimately, liver failure.

Causes of alcoholic hepatitis in adults

Alcoholic hepatitis is most common in people who have been drinking alcohol for many years. However, it does not develop in all heavy drinkers. Similarly, it can appear in people who drink in moderation. In general, alcoholic hepatitis occurs only in 35% of drinkers.

Researchers are still not sure why alcohol affects some people more than others, but they believe that alcoholic hepatitis could have several possible causes:

• genetic characteristics of the liver that affect how the human body processes alcohol;
• the presence of liver infections or other liver diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and hemochromatosis;
• malnutrition or obesity;
• drinking alcohol before meals.

Women are more likely to get alcoholic hepatitis.

Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis in adults

The symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis are very general and are often mistaken for signs of other common diseases:

• temperature, often subfebrile – it is only slightly above average (37,2 – 37,5 ° C);
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes);
• nausea and vomiting;
• slight bleeding or bruising on the skin;
• deterioration or complete loss of appetite;
• fatigue and weakness;
• weight loss;
• abdominal pain and swelling.

Symptoms that occur in more severe cases of alcoholic hepatitis include:

• changes in mental state, such as confusion due to the accumulation of toxins;
• accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites);
• renal and hepatic failure.

Treatment of alcoholic hepatitis in adults

If any of the above symptoms appear on the background of alcohol consumption, you should immediately consult a doctor in order to determine the diagnosis in a timely manner and begin immediate treatment.

Diagnostics

The doctor will first interview a patient with suspected alcoholic hepatitis, finding out how long alcohol has been consumed. He also feels the liver and spleen – they are often enlarged.

Additional texts on alcoholic hepatitis include:

• general blood analysis;
• liver function tests;
• blood clotting tests;
• CT scan of the abdomen;
• Baked UZI.

If these tests are inconclusive, your doctor may order a biopsy, in which samples of liver tissue are taken for analysis.

Modern treatments

Mild cases of alcoholic hepatitis are difficult to detect and last for years, causing progressive liver damage that can suddenly become severe and quickly lead to potentially life-threatening consequences. Therefore, at the first signs of illness, you should immediately tie up with alcohol.

If left untreated, severe alcoholic hepatitis can progress to cirrhosis, a severe liver disease.

Alcoholic hepatitis can also lead to hepatic encephalopathy, which occurs when toxins normally filtered by the liver remain in the bloodstream. Long-term exposure to these poisons can eventually lead to brain damage and, in some cases, coma.

If alcoholic hepatitis is diagnosed, the first step is to stop drinking alcohol. And the sooner this is done, the more likely it is that the liver will recover. Otherwise, significant damage may be done to it, and it will be impossible to fix it.

If you can’t cope with alcohol addiction, you should seek help from an alcoholism treatment specialist before it’s too late. There are many modern treatment options for alcoholism, usually a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

Prevention of alcoholic hepatitis in adults at home

The surest way to prevent alcoholic hepatitis is not to drink, or at least drink in moderation (half a beer or a glass of wine a day for women, a can of beer or a glass of vodka a day for men).

In addition, maintain a healthy weight and eat a low-sodium diet.

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