News & Articles
What Leads to Acute Liver Failure?
- 7:46, 6th September 2018
- Test Organization
- Liver and Gallbladder
- Liver Failure
Acute liver failure generally happens in a person who has no traces of pre-existing liver problems. The loss of liver function happens quite fast, within a span of two to three weeks.
Also known as the fulminant hepatic failure, this is a quite serious condition involving increasing pressure in the brain and excessive bleeding and calls for immediate hospitalization. In some of the less acute cases, it can be reversed with treatment.
However, at other times, the liver transplant is the only available option.
The general symptoms may include yellowing of the eyeballs and the skin (commonly known as jaundice), pain in the upper right abdomen or swelling of the abdomen, a continuous feeling of nausea and an overall uneasy feeling (malaise). In cases of these symptoms, seek treatment without further delay.
Causes of acute liver failure
1. Acetaminophen overdose - Consumption of Tylenol or other types of Acetaminophen in large quantity leads to liver failure. This needs medical attention as fast as possible.
2. Prescriptions medications - Antibiotics, anticonvulsants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed medications but can still lead to acute liver failure.
3. Herbal supplements - Kava, skullcap, ephedra, and pennyroyal are parts of herbal supplements and drugs and are reasons for liver failure.
4. Toxins - Poisonous wild mushrooms, that are sometimes assumed to be safe, can be harmful to your liver. Carbon tetrachloride is found in solvents and refrigerants and causes liver failure.
5. Autoimmune disease - Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the immune system starts to attack the liver cells and thus, inflames and injures it.
6. Cancer - The type that either starts in your liver or spreads to it leads to liver failure.
You might be an otherwise healthy person, but acute liver failure happens out of the blue. Hence, get advice from Curedit to avoid it.
