As liver disease progresses, the scarring of the liver continues, and your loved one may develop symptoms and complications which may include:

• Loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, weight loss
• A yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Itching (pruritus) which is primarily caused by retention of bile products in the skin
• Fluid build-up and painful swelling of the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites)
• Confusion and other mental changes, potentially leading to coma
• Swelling or rupture of veins in the esophagus from increased blood pressure in the blood vessels
• Weakness

Even when complications develop, they can often be treated. Please discuss treatment options with your loved one’s healthcare provider.

Before the appointment:

• List of all new symptoms (when it started and what it feels like) that you would like to discuss at the appointment.
• Write down all of the medication side effects your loved one is experiencing, and ask the doctor how to manage them.
• List of questions/concerns and prioritize them (place them in order of importance).
• Ensure you know how to prepare your loved one for medical procedure appointments (e.g. food and fluid restrictions).
• Help your loved one make a folder of all the essential medical information (medical history, test results, medication information, upcoming procedures, medical tips/recommendations etc.) and bring them to your appointments.
• Make arrangements and plan for how your loved one will be getting to and from their appointments.
• If you are unsure, call the office beforehand to confirm the date and time of your loved one’s appointment.

During the appointment:

• Take note of what is being discussed in case your loved one forgets any of this information.
• Let the healthcare provider know about the presence of symptoms and ask how they can be treated.
• Ask for clarification of any medical terms that you don’t understand.
• When your loved one is prescribed a medication, ask about what the drug is for and whether there are any side effects and how you can lessen them.
• Ask for clarification and interpretation of all test results.

Questions to ask:

• How will treatment affect my loved one’s daily life?
• Is there a special diet my loved one should be following or any foods/drinks they should avoid?
• How can we contact you in case we have any questions between now and the next appointment?
• Is there anything else we can do at home to slow down the progression of the disease?
• Are there any activities that can help my loved one stay strong? What activities should be avoided?
• What are the chances for success with the treatment you’ve provided?
• What are the support services available to us?

There are over 100 liver diseases: some that are caused by viruses (such as hepatitis A, B and C), some that are inherited (like hemochromatosis, Wilson disease) and others that are caused by lifestyle and the environment. If your loved one has viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C), talk to your healthcare provider about prevention and getting immunized against hepatitis A and hepatitis B.

For more information on specific liver diseases and how to protect yourself, please read our liver diseases section.

If your child has liver disease, the treatment varies with the cause. In general, your child’s physician may prescribe a special baby formula as well as vitamin supplements. Some metabolic diseases, such as galactosemia, require specific diets or drug treatments. For some diseases, such as biliary atresia, surgery on the liver is required.

In many cases, childhood liver diseases can be managed or controlled through diet, medications or other interventions. If the liver is too damaged to function effectively, a liver transplant may be necessary during the first year of your baby’s life.

Please talk to your healthcare provider regarding the specific diet and treatments your child may require.

A yellow discolouration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) that does not disappear is a sign of ongoing liver disease and generally indicates severe liver problems. In an infant who appears to recover from a liver disorder, the return of jaundice is a sign of ongoing disease.

Viral infections and biliary atresia are extremely unlikely to affect more than one person in a family. Metabolic disorders of the liver are usually inherited and therefore may occur in more than one family member. Older children in the family should be checked for these diseases, and infants should be followed carefully after birth. Prenatal diagnosis is available for some of these disorders, and genetic counselling may be useful to families who have a history of hereditary liver disease.

For more information on specific liver diseases and to find which may be hereditary, please read our liver diseases section.