Cirrhosis (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Cirrhosis Overview
- Cirrhosis Causes
- Cirrhosis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Cirrhosis Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Surgery
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Cirrhosis of The Liver - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
Cirrhosis Symptoms
- Many people with cirrhosis have no symptoms during the early phases of the disease. Symptoms are caused by either of 2 problems:
- Gradual failure of the liver to carry out its natural functions
- Distortion of the liver's usual shape and size because of scarring
- The most common symptoms of cirrhosis are as follows:
- Tiredness (fatigue) or even exhaustion
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite leading to weight loss
- Loss of sex drive
- Symptoms may not appear until complications of cirrhosis set in. Many people do not know they have cirrhosis until they have a complication.
- Jaundice - Yellowing of the skin and eyes from deposition of bilirubin in these tissues. Bilirubin is a product of the breakdown of old blood cells in the liver.
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Itching - From deposition in the skin of products of the breakdown of bile
- Abdominal pain - From enlargement of the liver or formation of gallstones
- Abdominal swelling or bloating - From fluid retention
- Weight gain - From fluid retention
- Swelling in ankles and legs (edema) - From fluid retention
- Difficulty breathing - From fluid retention
- Sensitivity to medications - Due to impairment of the liver's ability to filter medications from blood
- Confusion, delirium, personality changes, or hallucinations (encephalopathy) - From buildup of drugs or toxins in the blood, which then affect the brain
- Extreme sleepiness, difficulty awakening, or coma - Other symptoms of encephalopathy
- Bleeding from gums or nose - Due to impaired production of clotting factors
- Easy bruising - Due to impaired production of clotting factors
- Blood in vomit or feces - Due to bleeding of varicose veins caused by liver congestion
- Hemorrhoids - Varicose veins in rectum due to liver congestion
- Loss of muscle mass (wasting)
- In women, abnormal menstrual periods - Due to impairment in hormone production and metabolism
- In men, enlargement of the breasts (gynecomastia), scrotal swelling, or small testes - Due to impairment in hormone production and metabolism
Next: When to Seek Medical Care »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Cirrhosis of The Liver - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
The symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
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Cirrhosis »
Cirrhosis represents the final common histologic pathway for a wide variety of chronic liver diseases. The term cirrhosis was first introduced by Laennec in 1826.
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