How is cirrhosis contracted

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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Cirrhosis of the liver. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of liver cirrhosis Causes of liver cirrhosis Complications of liver cirrhosis Diagnosis of liver cirrhosis Treatment of liver cirrhosis Where to get help.

Symptoms of liver cirrhosis Symptoms depend on the severity of the cirrhosis, but may include: appetite loss nausea weight loss general tiredness spidery red veins on the skin spider angiomas easily bruised skin yellowing of the skin and eyes jaundice reddened palms palmar erythema itchy skin hair loss dark coloured urine fluid retention in the abdomen and legs internal bleeding presenting as dark-coloured stools or vomiting blood hormone disruptions that could cause a range of problems, including testicular atrophy shrinking and impotence in males or amenorrhoea no periods in women disturbed sleep patterns cognitive problems such as memory loss, confusion or concentration difficulties.

Causes of liver cirrhosis Two of the most well-known causes of liver cirrhosis are long-term excessive alcohol consumption and hepatitis C virus infection. Alcoholic liver cirrhosis Excessive and chronic alcohol consumption is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis and hepatitis Hepatitis is a general term meaning inflammation of the liver. Liver cirrhosis and fatty liver Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD is a condition where fat accumulates in the liver. NAFLD is associated with conditions such as: obesity — 20 per cent of people with obesity have fatty liver disease high blood cholesterol and triglycerides type 2 diabetes.

Liver cirrhosis from inherited conditions Some inherited conditions damage the liver and this leads to the scarring that can contribute to cirrhosis.

These conditions include: haemochromatosis — the body accumulates iron, which can damage many organs, including the liver Wilson disease — the tissues of the body accumulate copper galactosaemia — the body is unable to process galactose a sugar so it accumulates in the blood and can result in liver damage cystic fibrosis — mainly affects the lungs, but can also cause scarring of the liver alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency — can cause lung damage but can also affect liver function and lead to cirrhosis and liver failure.

Second, the liver has many cell units responsible for the same task. Therefore, if one area is injured, other cells will perform the functions of the injured section indefinitely or until the damage has been repaired. Different types of liver disorders include hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver tumours, and liver abscess collection of pus , just to name a few.

The focus here will be the two most common forms: hepatitis and cirrhosis. There is more than one type of hepatitis, and although they have similar symptoms, they're contracted in very different ways. Hepatitis A is the most common and the most infectious, spreading easily from person to person like most other viruses.

It affects millions around the world and is responsible for more than 2 million deaths a year. Hepatitis B is acquired through exposure to infected blood, vaginal fluids, or semen. It's estimated that about , Canadians have hepatitis B. Hepatitis C affects about 3.

Hepatitis D is unique because it can only affect those that already have hepatitis B. The second type of liver disorder is called cirrhosis.

This occurs over time. As the liver is damaged, it will repair itself, but scar tissue forms in the process. Over time this makes it difficult for the liver to function.

It's the final stage of many different forms of liver disease. Start the conversation about hepatitis C with your doctor by building a personalized discussion guide. Get the info you need. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a virus, by inherited disorders, and sometimes by certain medications or toxins such as alcohol and drugs. Scientists have identified four main types of viral hepatitis: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and hepatitis D.

A fifth type, hepatitis E, is generally not found in North America. Rather than being viewed in terms of its own stages, cirrhosis is often seen as a final stage of liver disease. Hepatitis B and C together are said to be the leading causes of cirrhosis.

Other causes include:. Toxins, including alcohol, are broken down by the liver. However, if the amount of alcohol is too high, the liver will be overworked, and liver cells can eventually become damaged. Heavy, regular, long-term drinkers are much more likely to develop cirrhosis, compared with other, healthy people.

Typically, heavy drinking needs to be sustained for at least 10 years for cirrhosis to develop. Hepatitis C, a blood-borne infection, can damage the liver and eventually lead to cirrhosis. Hepatitis C is a common cause of cirrhosis in Western Europe, North America, and many other parts of the world.

Cirrhosis can also be caused by hepatitis B and D. NASH, in its early stages, begins with the accumulation of too much fat in the liver. The fat causes inflammation and scarring, resulting in possible cirrhosis later on.

NASH is more likely to occur in people who are obese, diabetes patients, those with high fat levels in the blood, and people with high blood pressure. Sometimes the liver is attacked. Eventually, the patient can develop cirrhosis. Some conditions and diseases, such as cancer of the bile ducts, or cancer of the pancreas, can block the bile ducts, increasing the risk of cirrhosis.

This condition causes blood clots in the hepatic vein, the blood vessel that carries blood from the liver. This leads to liver enlargement and the development of collateral vessels. Because there are rarely symptoms early on in the condition, cirrhosis is often diagnosed when the patient is being tested for some other condition or disease.

A doctor will examine the patient and feel around the liver area to determine whether it is enlarged. The patient will be asked about their medical history and lifestyle, including drinking. Cirrhosis can lead to several other conditions, some of which are life-threatening. These include :. Ascites or edema: Ascites is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, and edema is a buildup of fluid in the legs.

They can be treated with a low-salt diet and water pills. In severe cases, the fluid may have to be drained repeatedly. This stops the liver from working normally. It lies up under your ribs on the right side of your belly.

When you have cirrhosis, scar tissue slows the flow of blood through the liver. In severe cases, the liver gets so badly damaged that it stops working. This is called liver failure. Some diseases passed from parent to child inherited diseases may also cause cirrhosis.

These may include:. Your symptoms may vary, depending on how severe your cirrhosis is. Mild cirrhosis may not cause any symptoms at all. The symptoms of cirrhosis may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider to be sure. Cirrhosis is a progressive liver disease that happens over time.

The damage to your liver can sometimes reverse or improve if the trigger is gone, such as stop drinking alcohol or if the virus is treated. The goal of treatment is to slow down the buildup of scar tissue and prevent or treat other health problems. In many cases, you may be able to delay or stop any more liver damage. If you have hepatitis, it may be treated to delay worsening of your liver disease. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, or vitamins.

A liver transplant may be needed. Other treatments may be specific to your cause of cirrhosis, such as controlling excessive iron or copper levels, or using immune suppressing medicines.

Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about recommended vaccines. These include vaccines for viruses that can cause liver disease. Health Home Conditions and Diseases.