End Stage Liver failure, symptoms of liver failure

The functions of the liver, the largest gland in the human body, are nutrients initial absorption, bile secretion, fat carbohydrates and protein metabolism, and detoxification. The damage of the liver, which may be caused by alcohol, hepatitis B and C, cancer, autoimmune liver diseases, and other conditions leads to liver failure.

End Stage Liver Failure Symptoms

The end stage liver failure symptoms are fits, breathlessness, breathing difficulties, yawning, difficulty with fine movements of hands, flapping tremor of hands, jaundice, sweet smelling breath, drowsiness, changes in behaviour and mood, confusion, delirium, incoherent speech, restlessness, hyperventilation, coma, enlarged liver, itchy skin, anorexia, ascites, vomiting, malaise, vomiting blood, diarrhoea, abdominal liver pain, distended abdomen, and nausea.

Symptoms of liver failure

The liver fails when it is unable to perform its metabolic and synthetic function normally.
It usually happens slowly over a length of period, and thus its progression usually goes unnoticed.
When the first symptoms actually do appear, the liver is usually left with little function.

There are 2 types of liver failures: acute liver failure and chronic liver failure.
Acute liver failure is the hepatic encephalopathy development – stupor, confusion and coma, and decreased proteins production within 4 weeks at the first liver problem symptoms.
Interval of 7 days or less is "hyperacute" liver failure, while interval of 5 to 12 is "subacute" liver failure.
Acute liver failure often affects young people and carries a very high mortality.Acute liver failure is an uncommon condition in which the rapid deterioration of liver function.

Chronic liver failure usually happens in cirrhosis context.
There are many possible causes, such as hepatitis B or C, excessive consumption of alcohol, autoimmune, metabolic and hereditary causes.

The symptoms of liver failure are feeling slow, weak, and lethargic, muscle twitches and tremors, seizures, bleeding, itchiness, swollen legs and belly, sleepy, confused, or may lapse into a coma.

Prognosis and Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause and on the specific symptoms. The urgency of treatment depends on whether liver failure is acute or chronic, but the principles of treatment are the same.
The person is usually placed on a restricted diet. Protein consumption is carefully controlled:
- Too much protein can cause brain dysfunction.
- Too little protein can cause weight loss.
Salt (sodium) consumption is kept low to help prevent ascitic fluid from accumulating in the abdomen. Alcohol is completely forbidden because it can worsen liver damage.