COVID-19: The Latest Information from UPMC
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COVID-19: The Latest Information from UPMC
Children's Hospital is part of the UPMC family.
Be safe anytime, anywhere.
To find a pediatrician or pediatric specialist, please call 412-692-7337 or search our directory.
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Cirrhosis (pronounced sur-o-sis) is a stage of liver disease that occurs when cells in the liver are damaged and scar tissue forms. This scar tissue causes blood flow to be blocked and waste products to build up in the body. In cirrhosis, normal areas of liver are surrounded by scarred areas that do not function properly.
Cirrhosis in pediatric patients causes normal areas of the liver to be surrounded by scarred areas that do not function properly.
People often think of cirrhosis as a disease caused by long-term alcohol abuse. While this is sometimes a factor in adults, cirrhosis in children often stems from a wide variety of liver disorders, including (but certainly not limited to):
Liver cirrhosis symptoms itself often causes no symptoms early in the disease process. Symptoms start when there is portal hypertension and/or the liver begins to fail, as scar tissue replaces healthy cells. Symptom severity may depend on the extent of liver damage.
A person in the early stages of cirrhosis may feel fatigued and weak. Sometimes he or she will experience abdominal swelling that feels tender or painful. Family may notice the person has a poor appetite or is losing weight.
As the disease progresses, bile flow is blocked or stopped, and jaundice (yellow skin or eyes) appears. The same bile pigment, bilirubin, which is responsible for the yellow skin tones of jaundice can turn urine dark. Bleeding and bruising can occur more easily and take longer to heal. Other later symptoms, some due to complications, include:
If your child's doctor suspects that your child has cirrhosis, he or she will perform tests to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. Tests may include (but are not limited to):
In general, cirrhosis cannot be cured or reversed, doctors treat it with the following goals:
Your child's doctor may prescribe drugs to treat the underlying cause of the liver disease. Other medications may be used to control symptoms or fight infections. Some medications are prescribed to get rid of excess fluid in the body or reduce the risk of a blood vessel breaking. Others help your child's body cut down on its absorption of harmful waste products or toxins.
If the complications of cirrhosis can no longer be controlled, or if the liver is in danger of no longer functioning, a liver transplant is often the best op