Liver cirrhosis

Liver
cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring of the liver caused by many forms of
liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism.
Cirrhosis occurs in response to damage to the liver. Each time the liver is
injured, it tries to repair itself. In the process, scar tissue forms. As
cirrhosis progresses, more and more scar tissue forms, making it difficult for
the liver to function. The liver damage done by cirrhosis generally cannot be
undone. But if liver cirrhosis is diagnosed early and the cause is treated,
further damage can be limited and, rarely, reversed.

Signs and symptoms of liver cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis often has no signs or symptoms
until liver damage is extensive. When signs and symptoms do occur, they may
include:

·
Fatigue

·
Bleeding easily

·
Bruising easily

·
Itchy skin

·
Yellow discoloration in the skin and eyes
(jaundice)

·
Fluid accumulation in the abdomen

·
Loss of appetite

·
Swelling in your legs

·
Weight loss

·
Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech

·
Spiderlike blood vessels on the skin

·
Redness in the palms of the hands

·
Breast enlargement in men

Causes of liver cirrhosis

A wide range of diseases and conditions can damage
the liver and lead to liver cirrhosis. The most common causes are:

·
Chronic alcohol abuse

·
Chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C)

·
Fat accumulating in the liver

Other possible causes include:

·
Iron buildup in the body

·
Copper accumulated in the liver

·
Poorly formed bile ducts

·
Inherited disorders of sugar metabolism

·
Genetic digestive disorder

·
Liver disease caused by your body’s immune system

·
Destruction of the bile ducts

·
Hardening and scarring of the bile ducts

The role of the family in the control of liver
cirrhosis

Family members should work together to ensure that
lifestyles which trigger liver cirrhosis are limited. These include:

·
Avoiding alcohol: Drinking
alcohol may cause liver damage leading to cirrhosis.

·
Eating a low-sodium diet: Excess
salt can cause the body to retain fluids, worsening swelling in your abdomen
and legs.

·
Eating a healthy diet: Liver cirrhosis leads to malnutrition
and loss of muscle. The best defense against this development is to maintain a
healthy diet, with a variety of fruits and vegetables.

The role of the community in the control of liver
cirrhosis

Community members through
community leaders should ensure that members are well informed on how to
control liver cirrhosis through:

·
Avoiding infections:
Cirrhosis makes it more difficult for you to fight off infections. People should
informed on how to protect themselves by washing their hands frequently and also
to get vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, influenza, and pneumonia.

·
Careful use of over-the-counter medications: Cirrhosis
makes it more difficult for the liver to process drugs. For this reason, people
should consult before taking any medications, including nonprescription drugs.

The role
of government in the control of liver cirrhosis

Government should create awareness on how the
general public can reduce the risk of liver cirrhosis by taking care of your
liver through, avoiding alcohol consumption, the need to a healthy diet,
maintaining a healthy weigh and reducing the risk of hepatitis by avoiding sharing
of needles and having unprotected sex.