Liver Failure and Liver Damage

Any kind of damage to liver cell, biliary ducts and vessels affects the liver structure thereby resulting in Liver damage. Hardly any symptoms or at times no symptoms at all are noticed in a mild liver damage and it results in only partial impairment of the liver and its functions. However, a severe damage to the liver can be fatal and is referred as Liver failure.

Symptoms and Signs of Mild to Moderate Liver Damage

A mild to moderate level of liver damage can be identified by the following symptoms:

• A mild and dull pain in the upper right part of abdomen just below the ribcage.
• A feeling of fullness is observed in the right side of abdomen along with swelling.
• Lack of hunger, tiredness, vomiting and nausea.
• Slight increase in the body temperature.
• White diarrhea identified by loose and foul smelling watery stool.
• Varying severity of Jaundice.

Consulting a doctor is necessary on noticing any of these symptoms. The medical practitioner suspecting a liver damage may look for the following signs:

• Physically examining the liver may reveal an enlarged liver.
• The eye and skin of a patient with damaged liver may show yellow discoloration.
• Abdominal distension is noticed as a result of water collection.
• Small red veins similar to a spider appear on the face and upper body. This condition is known as Spider nevi.

Liver Failure: Symptoms and Signs

A serious damage to the liver which leaves it unable to perform the normal metabolic and synthetic functions results in liver failure. It can happen due to various factors including an overdose of drugs like paracetamol and illegal drugs like cocaine and heroine. Factors like poisoning, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis also lead to the failure of liver.

Symptoms of liver failure include all the symptoms of liver damage but with more severity and following additions:

• Drowsiness or unconsciousness that may even lead to coma in some cases.
• Stiffness is observed in muscles combined with Tremor in limbs.
• A condition of Acetone where the breath turns sweet in smell.
• Tearing of esophageal varices leads to vomiting blood.

Blood tests are suggested for the correct diagnosis of either a liver damage or liver failure whereas prognosis is dependent on the cause leading to liver damage or failure.