Although alcoholic hepatitis are most likely to occur in alcoholic for years, but the consumption of alcohol and alcoholic hepatitis have a complex relationship. Not all alcoholics suffering from alcoholic hepatitis, and the disease can also occur in people who drank only a little.
If you have been diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis, this means having to quit drinking alcohol totally. People who continue to drink alcohol can continue to worsen more serious liver damage is cirrhosis and liver failure.
Cause
Alcoholic hepatitis occurs when the liver is damaged by alcohol has been consumed. The mechanism of how alcohol can cause liver damage in alcoholics is not known clearly.
Ethanol-solving process which is the alcohol contained in beer, wine and liquor can produce highly toxic chemicals, such as acetaldehyde. These chemicals trigger inflammation that destroys the liver cells. Then the healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue inflammation caused by injury. It will interfere with the liver's ability to function properly. The formation of scar tissue is irreversible damage called cirrhosis, is the final stage of alcoholic hepatitis.
Symptom
Mild forms of alcoholic hepatitis may not cause a real problem, but the development of liver disease will cause more damage, signs and symptoms that may occur, among others:
1. Loss of appetite
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Abdominal pain and tenderness
4. Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
5. Fever
6. Abdominal swelling due to fluid retention (ascites)
7. Fatigue
When to consult a doctor?
Consult your doctor if you have signs or symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis. If you ever feel as though unable to control the drinking, then consult with a physician.
Treatment
1. Stop drinking alcohol
If you have been diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis, then it should stop drinking alcohol. This is the only way to stop the liver damage or to prevent progression of the disease becomes more severe. If you continue to drink alcohol, it is likely to experience serious complications.
If you have alcohol dependence with and want to quit, the doctor may recommend therapy tailored to the conditions of dependency. Therapy may include medications, counseling, etc..
2. Therapy for malnutrition
Your doctor may recommend a special diet to improve the condition of malnutrition that can occur in people with alcoholic hepatitis. Your doctor can refer to a dietician who can help assess the current diet and recommend changes to improve the vitamins and nutrients.
3. Drugs to reduce inflammation of the liver
Patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis may consider short-term treatment with drugs to reduce inflammation of the liver. In certain circumstances, your doctor may recommend corticosteroids or pentoxifylline.
4. Liver transplant
When severely impaired liver function, liver transplantation may be the only option for some people. Although liver transplantation is often successful, the number of people needing transplants far exceeds the number of available organs.
Some medical centers may be reluctant to perform liver transplantation in patients with alcoholic hepatitis because most likely will return to consume alcohol after the surgery.
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