Liver cirrhosis can happen even to non-drinkers.

Liver cirrhosis can happen even to non-drinkers.

It is a thing that has been heard a lot, alcohol damages the liver. Although alcohol is one cause, there are many other factors involved in liver damage.

Stomach and hepatology specialist Dr. Relic Bhandari says.

As a result, it can cause chronic diseases like liver cirrhosis. What is liver cirrhosis? What is the cause of this disease, how is it treated in Nepal? Dr. focusing on topics including Edited excerpt from conversation with Bhandari:

What is liver cirrhosis?

Liver cirrhosis is the last stage of liver failure. It is called the end stage of liver disease in medical language. After reaching this state, the liver does not return to its old state. This is a very complicated condition physically.

It is said that this disease caused by liver damage is only caused by alcohol consumption, isn't it?

The main reason for this is excessive alcohol consumption. In Nepal, this disease is more common in people who drink alcohol. But even among those who do not consume alcohol, this disease is increasing in people with hepatitis B, C and obesity. In addition, non-cirrhotic hypertension, which has the potential to progress to cirrhosis. There is a possibility that cirrhosis may occur indirectly in people with diabetes due to accumulation of fat in the liver.

Similarly, women who have used birth control pills or depot for a long time become uncontrollable and become obese. Even in this case, cirrhosis can sometimes be seen.

Can children and adults also get this disease?

A pregnant woman with hepatitis B has a 90% chance of passing it on to her child if it is not treated. Because of this, cirrhosis can also occur in infants. So now the government has introduced a vaccination program against Hepatitis B. It seems that it may reduce its infection rate in the future.

In adults, hepatitis B and C are also more likely to be transmitted by using the wrong needle, having unprotected sex with many people, being obese and drinking too much alcohol.

What are its symptoms?

The main symptoms are bloating, swollen legs and jaundice. Drinking alcohol for a long time and suffering from chronic diseases can lead to anemia. Symptoms such as vomiting blood, sometimes black stools, fainting, and decreased urination can also be seen.

What can be its identification and treatment?

It is identified by video x-ray, blood test, endoscopy. In the same way, fiber scan can also be used to see how much the liver has shrunk or what percentage is damaged.

Since this disease is a long-term disease that cannot be cured, after the disease is diagnosed, its only solid treatment is a liver transplant. Apart from that, treatment is for prevention. Prevention is symptomatic treatment, which is only temporary. This is called damage control therapy.

How likely is the patient to improve after preventive damage control therapy?

Whether or not the patient recovers after prevention depends on the percentage of liver damage. Cirrhosis is divided according to grade as A, B, C. Category A patients have more ability to save. In class B, the probability of this is moderate, while in class C, or when the liver is completely damaged, there is a risk of death of more than 50 percent in one year. The most important thing is that people who consume alcohol, in whom cirrhosis is detected as soon as possible, we have seen good results after treatment. Therefore, cirrhosis can be prevented if you stop drinking alcohol as soon as it appears, treat hepatitis B and C, and control obesity.

Is there a liver transplant facility in Nepal?

This service is available in Nepal's Tertiary Teaching Hospital and Chitwan Medical College. So far, the 11th liver transplant has been successful in Nepal.

Who can donate a liver?

In Nepal, most of the people can donate liver from their own family. After the donor is ready, the cirrhotic patient must have stopped drinking alcohol for 6 months. In case of hepatitis B and C, transplantation can be done only after bringing the virus under control. Similarly, in the case of people with diabetes, the transplant can be done by controlling the diabetes.

Can they return to normal life after liver transplant?

Barring some complications, people can return to normal life after transplantation. After that, you should definitely pay attention to your lifestyle.

How to avoid cirrhosis?

Since alcohol consumption is considered to be the main cause of this, to avoid this, first of all, you should not drink alcohol. Set aside one hour for physical exercise in 24 hours, take normal walks, keep the body fit, avoid obesity, prioritize vegetables and fruits, reduce fish and meat consumption as much as possible after getting older, drink more than two liters of water regularly, prevent hepatitis B and C. Liver cirrhosis can be avoided if avoided.