Cirrhosis is scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by long-term liver damage. The scar tissue prevents the liver from performing its function like making protein, helping fight infections, detoxifying the blood, helping digest food, and storing energy.
Individuals suffering from cirrhosis may have few or no symptoms and signs of liver disease initially. Some of the symptoms may be nonspecific like weakness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite resulting & weight loss. However, as the disease progresses, more serious complications like small spider-like veins underneath the skin, severe itching, bleeding or bruising, jaundice, edema (swelling of legs, ankles, and feet), ascites (painful swollen stomach from a build-up of fluid), and mental confusion may develop.
Cirrhosis is usually caused by various factors some of which are hepatitis B and C infections, chronic alcoholism, genetic disorders, and certain infections. Treatment for cirrhosis varies based on the cause and how far the disease has progressed.
