Which is:
Acute liver failure is a serious illness that causes liver destruction and if liver transplantation 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 common causes of acute liver failure are:
- Virus : is the most common cause, especially the hepatitis virus;
- Medications : 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
The treatment for acute liver failure consists of the following conducts:
- Referral to the hospital emergency room as soon as symptoms such as malaise, nausea, vomiting and yellowing of the skin are detected;
- Identification of the causes : if they have treatment, start as soon as possible;
- Hospitalization in intensive care : for intensive monitoring in order to avoid complications.
As it is an urgent case, especially if it is a fulminant hepatitis, the hospital that receives the patient in the emergency room, should contact a transplant unit, for eventual liver transplantation, if there is no contraindication.
Acute paracetamol hepatitis
Acute hepatitis by acetaminophen is an intoxication caused by whether or not it takes acetaminophen. It is more common in more developed countries and the 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 the 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 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 immunoglobulin injection will be indicated.
Acute and chronic hepatitis
Acute hepatitis is a highly contagious liver inflammation, which can be caused mainly by viruses, causing lack of 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.
