Alcoholic Hepatitis – Learn How to Prevent It

The harmful use of alcohol has been estimated to cause approximately 3.3 million deaths every year, corresponding to nearly 6% of all deaths globally. Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by drinking alcohol. Alcoholic hepatitis is most likely to occur in people who drink heavily over many years. Not all heavy drinkers develop hepatitis, and the disease can also occur in people who drink only moderately. Your liver is the largest organ in your body. It processes alcohol into various byproducts. These byproducts produce toxins that cause damage to the liver. The liver cells die and are replaced by scar tissue, leading to fibrosis, followed by cirrhosis or cancer in people.

Risk Factors of Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcohol does not affect every person in the same way. People who drink heavily may never develop the condition, while people who drink occasionally may develop it. Heavy episodic drinking is defined as consumption of more than 60 g of pure alcohol on one occasion, and generally, people who binge drink, which is defined as men who have five or more drinks and women who have four or more drinks within a few hours, are at risk of damaging their liver.

Alcoholic Hepatitis Symptoms

• Jaundice – yellow eyes and skin
• Abdominal pain
• Fever
• Swollen belly
• Weight loss
• Nausea/vomiting

Treatment Options for Alcoholic Hepatitis

The first step is to quit drinking. If your liver damage is minimal, it will likely reverse the damage. The treatment plan includes the following.

• Steroids are used to reduce swelling of the liver after confirmation of the diagnosis through liver biopsy.
• Antibiotics to fight bacterial infections, if any
• Diet change, with a high protein diet to +/- a low sodium diet
• Diuretics may be used to reduce water retention if kidney function tests are standard.
• Vitamin supplements to boost the immune system.

If the damage is extensive and treatment is not effective, your liver may go into failure and may require a liver transplant.

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention?

If you have alcoholic hepatitis and suddenly develop any of the symptoms, rush to the hospital.

• Sever jaundice
• Mental confusion
• Pass the black tarry stool
• Vomit blood
• Fever with chills
• Fluid buildup in the abdomen

Expert Liver Care at Dr. Rela Hospital

Dr. Rela Hospital is one of the world’s leading liver care and liver transplant centers. World-renowned liver specialists, excellent diagnostics, advanced technology, and the latest procedures and treatments are available under one roof. For complete hepatitis care, contact: 044 – 6666 7777