Cirrhosis is a chronic disease that results in scarring and decreased function of the liver. initial symptoms of the disease include red palms, red spots in the upper body, increased in size of the parotid glands, and fibrosis of tendons in the hands.
contrary to popular belief that alcoholism is the only cause of the disease, cirrhosis has many possible causes, and sometimes more than one cause is present in the same patient.
hepatitis B is the most common cause of cirrhosis worldwide, especially in Southeast Asia. hepatitis B causes liver inflammation and injury that over several years can lead to cirrhosis.
in the US, alcoholism and hepatitis C are the most common causes of cirrhosis. cirrhosis may also result from hepatitis B or C, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease and even severe reactions to prescription drugs. in children, cirrhosis may be cause by cystic fibrosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and glycogen storage disease.
liver damage due to cirrhosis is irreversible, but treatment can prevent or delay further progression and reduce complications. healthy diet is encouraged as cirrhosis is conceivably an energy-consuming process. salt intake and high-protein foods are restricted. alcohol and other potentially damaging substances are discouraged.
a liver transplant is necessary if complications cannot be controlled or when the liver ceases to function. liver transplantation procedures have been increasingly successful since the 1990s. presently, the rate of survival from liver transplantation has reached 90 percent.
(http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov)
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