Alcoholic Hepatitis

Service Description

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 ofalcohol. • You have been drinking heavily foryears. • You bingedrink. • You areobese. • You have had infectioushepatitis. • You aremalnourished. SIGNS ANDSYMPTOMS • Abdominalpain. • A swollenabdomen. • 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 theabdomen. • Unusualbleeding. • Itching. • Trouble thinkingclearly. • Memoryproblems. • Moodchanges. • Confusion. • Numbness and tingling in the feet andlegs. DIAGNOSIS Alcoholichepatitisisdiagnosedwithbloodteststhatshowproblemswithliverfunction.Additional tests may also be done, suchas: • 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 withdrawalsymptoms. • 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 theinflammation. • 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 careprovider. • Follow dietary instructions carefully. • Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This isimportant. SEEK MEDICAL CARE IF: • You have afever. • You do not have your usualappetite. • You have flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, or muscleaches. • 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

Contact Details

• 7871754321

  gastrofoundation@gmail.com