Acute liver failure is when the functioning of the liver starts to deteriorate and affects the liver. It affects a person who has no pre-existing liver issues.
Acute liver failure occurs rapidly and is less common tha chronic liver failure which develops slowly. Acute liver failure can lead to serious complications in a span of a few days or weeks.
Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure vary in each case. Some of the common symptoms are as below
- Pain in the abdomen
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Uneasiness
- Tremors
- Jaundice (Yellowish skin and eyes)
When the liver is no longer able to functioning normally it leads to liver failure.
Below are some potential causes of acute liver failure.
- Overdose of certain medication
- Herbal supplements
- Anti inflammatory drugs
- Food that might have toxins like musrooms
- Hepatits A, B and E
- Vascular diseases
- Cancer
- Sunstroke
Below are some of the tests and procedures done to diagnose acute liver failure.
- Blood tests
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- Liver Biopsy
In severe cases the only last resort is liver transplant. Below are some of the measures taken to control the liver damage.
- Medication to reverse the effect of infection
- Medications to reduce the fluid buildup in your brain
- Treat nutritional deficiencies
- Medications to reduce the risk of bleeding
