[서울=뉴시스] ]Liver Day Reference Illustration (Photo = Provided by GC Green Cross Medical Foundation)
[뉴스토피아 남희영 기자]The liver is the largest organ in the body and is located under the diaphragm on the right side. It produces and stores various nutrients needed by our body, such as proteins, and detoxifies drugs and harmful substances. Additionally, it produces bile and contains immune cells to eliminate bacteria and foreign substances that enter our body.
So what symptoms will occur if the liver deteriorates? According to the Health Insurance Review and Evaluation Service, no symptoms occur until liver function deteriorates significantly. This is why it is often called the organ of silence.
Nonspecific symptoms of liver disease include fatigue, general weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, nausea, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort. Additionally, characteristic symptoms of liver disease include dull pain in the upper right abdomen, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and jaundice, in which the urine turns dark brown.
The most common liver disease in Korea is chronic viral hepatitis. In Korea, the prevalence of hepatitis C is less than 1% of adults over the age of 20 (0.6-0.8% – as of 2017), while hepatitis B is 2.0% of people over the age of 10 and 3-4% of people over the age of 30 (as of 2019). In most cases there are no symptoms, so people are not aware of the infection and end up going to hospital when the disease is in an advanced stage. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to liver diseases daily.
When considering when to get tested for hepatitis B or C, it is a good idea for everyone to get tested for hepatitis B to find out if they are infected, but especially in the following cases, it is necessary to get tested for hepatitis : ① If your parents, especially your mother, have hepatitis ② If a member of your family, a couple or a sexual partner has hepatitis B ③ If you received a blood transfusion before 1990, before it was Hepatitis C test available ④ If you are a drug addict ⑤ If you have many sexual partners ⑥ Healthcare and medical workers, firefighters, police officers, etc. ⑦ Workers of nursing homes, people with disabilities, child protection facilities, etc.
Additionally, if you have been diagnosed with type B or type C disease, you should first consult a specialist to discuss the current status of your liver disease and future treatment. Additionally, it is recommended that family members living with you be tested, and if hepatitis B antibodies test negative, they are advised to get vaccinated. In particular, in the case of viral hepatitis, the incidence of liver cancer increases significantly. Therefore, regular inspection is essential.
Also, if the mother has hepatitis B, hepatitis can be passed to the baby. Therefore, we recommend that you consult a specialist to prevent hepatitis infection. Finally, you should not donate blood because hepatitis can be transmitted through blood.
In the meantime, let’s look at situations in which liver disease eventually worsens and a liver transplant is needed. The prime candidates for receiving a liver transplant are patients with end-stage liver disease. This is because cirrhosis is a liver disease that progresses and causes loss of normal liver function and complications. Cirrhosis refers to a condition in which chronic inflammation of the liver continues, eventually leading to “fibrosis.”
Subsequently, patients with acute liver failure are also eligible. In addition to the causes of end-stage liver disease, acute liver failure can also be caused by drugs or toxic substances. If your liver failure progresses rapidly, you may be a candidate for emergency liver transplant. Additionally, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are also eligible. In Korea, 40% of all patients who receive a liver transplant for end-stage liver disease also have hepatocellular carcinoma. Because the recurrence rate after liver transplant is high, it is advisable to receive a liver transplant before hepatocellular carcinoma progresses too far.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at some frequently asked questions related to hepatitis and liver transplantation.
1) What is the difference between acute hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis B?
A. Acute hepatitis is considered up to 6 months after exposure to the hepatitis B virus, and recovery from hepatitis B generally occurs within 6 months. If the surface antigen remains positive after 6 months, chronic hepatitis has occurred. Chronic hepatitis can last a lifetime.
2) What are the symptoms if I contract acute hepatitis B?
The most common symptoms of acute hepatitis B are cold-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, joint and muscle pain. In most cases, people only experience the symptoms of muscle pain or are unaware of them because the symptoms are mild. If symptoms are severe, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and abdominal discomfort may occur and hospitalization may be necessary.
3) If all else fails, is a liver transplant the last treatment option?
Yes. If the patient’s condition continues to worsen despite various medical treatments, there is no other option other than liver transplantation. However, if hepatocellular carcinoma has progressed too far, the rate of recurrence may be high even after transplantation, so it is important to receive a liver transplant before this.
4) How long does it take to be discharged from hospital after liver transplant surgery?
The period of time until discharge after liver transplant largely depends on the general condition of the patient before the operation. In general, a hospitalization period of about 1 week in the intensive care unit or 2-3 weeks in a hospital room is required, and depending on the patient’s condition after surgery, the patient may be admitted to the hospital for 1-2 months.
Since the liver does not cause much pain or symptoms, it is important to keep an eye on it and follow the rules of daily life and a proper diet. Let’s look at the general lifestyle rules and correct eating habits for a healthy liver. ①Avoid taking unnecessary medications as they may actually be harmful to your liver. In particular, most folk remedies and herbal medicines that are believed to be good for the liver have not been scientifically verified for their effectiveness. Special caution is needed as serious side effects may occur. ②Excessive drinking and smoking can cause serious liver disease. Especially after drinking excessively, drinking alcohol or taking additional unnecessary medications can make liver damage even worse. ③You must be careful not to lose the vitamins, minerals and nutrients your body needs due to excessive weight control. ④ The best way to prevent hepatitis B is vaccination.
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