About
Alcoholic hepatitis occurs when a person develops inflammation of the liver due to alcohol consumption.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an alcoholic if you develop the disease, however. Although most people with alcoholic hepatitis have drunk heavily for many years, the disease can also develop in people who drink only moderately.
Symptoms
The most prevalent symptom of the disease is jaundice – a yellowing of the skin the white of the eyes. Other symptoms include:
- Tenderness in the abdomen
- Nausea
- Low-grade fever
- Fatigue or weakness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
Severe alcoholic hepatitis can also result in symptoms such as:
- Abdominal fluid accumulation
- A buildup of toxins (normally processed and eliminated by the liver) that causes confusion and changes in behavior
- Kidney, lung and brain failure
Alcoholic hepatitis is a very serious disease – as many as 40 percent of people with the disease die within one month if left untreated.
Treatment
At SCLC, we are one of the few centers that manages patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis. Our comprehensive diagnostic approach involves supporting the liver during the severe inflammation process until it recovers. This process requires intense care for the patients in a hospital setting.
If you do receive an alcoholic hepatitis diagnosis, you must stop drinking alcohol immediately. Consult SCLC for an immediate evaluation and management.