Alcoholic hepatitis is liver inflammation caused by drinking alcohol. This inflammation decreases the liver's ability to function normally.

CAUSES

Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by heavy drinking.

RISK FACTORS

You may have an increased risk of alcoholic hepatitis if:

• You drink large amounts of alcohol.

• You have been drinking heavily for years.

• You bingedrink.

.• You have had infectioushepatitis.

• You areobese.

• You aremalnourished.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Abdominal pain.

• A swollen abdomen.

• Loss ofappetite.

• Unintentional weightloss.

• Nausea andvomiting.

• Tiredness.

• Drymouth.

• Severethirst.

• A yellow tone to the skin and whites of the eyes(jaundice).

• Spidery veins, especially across the skin of the abdomen.

• Unusualbleeding.

• Itching.

• Trouble thinkingclearly.

• Memoryproblems.

• Mood changes.

• Confusion.

• Numbness and tingling in the feet andlegs.

DIAGNOSIS

Alcoholichepatitisisdiagnosedwithbloodteststhatshowproblemswithliverfunction.Additional tests may also be done, such as:

• Anultrasound.

• A CTscan.

TREATMENT

The most important step you can take to treat alcoholic hepatitis is to stop drinking alcohol. If you are addicted to alcohol, your health care provider will help you create a plan to quit. It may involve:

• Taking medicine to decrease with draw a symptoms.

• Entering a program to help you stopdrinking.

• Joining a supportgroup.

Additional treatment for alcoholic hepatitis may include:

• Medicines such as steroids. The medicines will help decrease the inflammation.

• Diet. Your health care provider might ask you to undergo nutritional counseling and follow a diet. You may also need to take dietary supplements and vitamins.

• A liver transplant. This procedure is performed in very severe cases. It is only performedon people who have totally stopped drinking and can commit to never drinking alcoholagain.

HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS

• Do not drinkalcohol.

• Do not use medicines or eat foods that containalcohol.

• Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.

• Follow dietary instructions carefully.

• Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.

SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF:

• You have afever.

• You do not have your usualappetite.

• You have flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, or muscle aches.

• You feel nauseous orvomit.

• You bruiseeasily.

• Your urine is verydark.

• You have new abdominalpain.

SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE IF:

• There is blood in yourvomit.

• You developjaun