Alcoholic hepatitis is an acute health condition in which the individuals experience liver damage by consuming alcohol in excess. This is the alcoholic liver disease which is the most fatal condition and it is also called ALD among people. It causes inflammation in the liver and it is caused by hepatitis virus or other kinds of toxins. There are various factors which cause such types of liver problems. These are swelling, scarring, lack of nutrition, obesity, binge drinking alcohol, liver disease and breakdown of alcohol into highly toxic chemicals.

It is a form of alcohol-associated liver disease which is different from its cirrhosis and fatty liver type. Such a condition arises due to consumption of alcohol for a long duration. It is one of the major causes of death in individuals.

Symptoms

It shows some signs and these are as follows:-

Formation of fluid in the abdomen
Fever
Vomiting
Increased infection
Confusion
Enlargement of the liver
Decreased levels of consciousness
Drowsiness
Jaundice

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and run some tests like imaging, blood tests and liver biopsy. These are done to diagnose such liver disorder which is caused by drinking alcohol.

A high frequency of ultrasound waves are used to create a clear image of defective liver.
A blood sample is taken to perform various tests. Such as liver function test to check liver enzymes, complete blood count to check any disorder. In some cases, a sample of urine is also taken to check any problem in the liver.
A sample of small tissue is taken from the liver. It is done during surgery or with the help of a needle. Then it checks any kind of disease in the liver.
MRI is done by injecting a dye into the vein to view a clear image of the liver on the computer screen.

Procedure for Alcoholic Hepatitis

The ALD can be prevented by making changes in their lifestyle and habits. This life risk problem can be treated in the following ways:-

1. Avoid Drinking Alcohol

It is the initial step to prevent liver disorder and it is called abstinence. Avoidance if alcohol is advised for a certain period of time if an individual has fatty liver. Its damage can be reversed if a person is able to abstain himself or herself. However, ALD is a serious liver disease which requires you to quit drinking for lifetime.

2. Maintain Healthy Diet

It is another aspect to treat alcoholic hepatitis, a balanced diet and nutrition is quite important. It is important to avoid spicy, salty foods to prevent damage to your liver. It is because a damaged liver cannot store carbohydrates, protein etc. These are energy giving substances which provide energy to the body and reduce the risk of infection.

3. Medications

In this liver disorder, inflammation is quite common. Your doctor will advise you to take some medicines to reduce it.

4. Manage Withdrawal Symptoms

It is not easy to stop drinking alcohol which may cause withdrawal symptoms in patients. Your body may take up to 7 days to be without alcohol. Some therapies can be used along with it to support the withdrawal process.

5. Surgical Procedure

In the rare and severe cases, when the liver becomes non functional and leads to failure then the liver transplantation is opted. It is helpful to save many lives.

Risk Factors of Alcoholic Hepatitis

There are some factors which may lead to this serious liver problem. These are as follows:-

There is a risk to cause this liver problem in those individuals who have unmanageable weight and have drinking problems.
Males and females who have more than five drinks in two hours are called binge drinkers. It increases the risk of this serious alcohol-based liver injury.
It is most commonly found in women as compared to men because of its breakdown in their body.
Sometimes, such disorder is influenced by genes.

Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment