Liver failure facts for kids

Liver failure happens when your liver stops working properly. The liver is a very important organ in your body. It helps with many things, like cleaning your blood and making important substances. When it fails, it can't do these jobs anymore.

There are two main types of liver failure:

• Acute liver failure happens suddenly and quickly.
• Chronic liver failure develops slowly over a long time. This is often linked to a condition called cirrhosis.

What Does Your Liver Do?

Your liver is a large organ located in the upper right part of your belly. It's like a busy factory inside your body!

Key Jobs of the Liver

The liver has many important jobs, including:

• Cleaning your blood: It removes harmful substances and waste products from your blood.
• Making important proteins: It creates proteins that help your blood clot and fight infections.
• Storing energy: It stores sugar (glucose) for when your body needs extra energy.
• Helping with digestion: It produces bile, which helps your body digest fats.

What Causes Liver Failure?

Many things can cause the liver to stop working well.

Common Causes

Some common reasons for liver failure include:

• Long-term liver damage: Conditions that damage the liver over many years, like cirrhosis, can lead to chronic liver failure.
• Certain medicines: Taking too much of some medicines, like Paracetamol, can harm the liver, especially if not used correctly.
• Infections: Some viruses, like hepatitis, can cause liver damage.
• Fatty liver disease: This happens when too much fat builds up in the liver. It can be linked to eating many fatty foods or having obesity.
• Other health problems: Conditions like Type 2 diabetes can also increase the risk of liver problems.

Signs and Symptoms

When your liver isn't working well, your body will show signs. These can be different for everyone.

What to Look For

Some common signs of liver failure include:

• Feeling very tired: You might feel unusually weak or sleepy.
• Yellow skin or eyes: This is called jaundice. It happens when a substance called bilirubin builds up in your body.
• Swelling: You might notice swelling in your legs, ankles, or belly due to fluid buildup.
• Feeling sick: This can include nausea (feeling like you're going to throw up) or actually vomiting.
• Itchy skin: Your skin might feel very itchy.
• Changes in thinking: In severe cases, people might become confused or have trouble concentrating.

How is Liver Failure Treated?

Treatment for liver failure depends on what caused it and how severe it is.

Treatment Options

Doctors will try to find the cause of the liver failure and treat that specific problem.

• Medicines: Some medicines can help manage symptoms or treat the underlying cause.
• Lifestyle changes: Eating healthy foods and staying active can help support liver health.
• Special care: In serious cases, people might need to stay in the hospital for close monitoring.
• Liver transplant: For very severe and long-lasting liver failure, a liver transplant might be an option. This is when a sick liver is replaced with a healthy one from a donor.

Prevention Tips

Taking care of your liver is important for staying healthy.

Keeping Your Liver Healthy

Here are some ways to help prevent liver problems:

• Eat healthy: Choose a balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Try to limit fatty foods and sugary drinks.
• Stay active: Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and can reduce the risk of fatty liver disease.
• Be careful with medicines: Always follow the directions when taking medicines. Never take more than the recommended dose.
• Avoid risky behaviors: Be careful about sharing needles or getting tattoos and piercings from places that are not clean and safe.