Liver Failure: Recognizing Symptoms & Warning Signs

The liver helps fight infection and cleans the blood. It also digests food and stores energy. Without a properly working liver, you face a life-threatening situation. Liver failure is usually a gradual process, and the initial symptoms may not seem to be associated with the liver. However, later symptoms are more conclusive.

Initial Signs

• The early signs of liver failure include nausea, diarrhea, lack of appetite and fatigue. These signs may be associated with other conditions.

Jaundice

• Jaundice may be the only sign or symptom of liver failure. The result is a predominant yellowing of the skin and yellow in the mucous membrane of the eye. The urine will be dark, as well.

Cholestasis

• Cholestasis is the stoppage of bile flow. The symptoms include dark urine, pale stool, spider veins, easy bleeding, enlarged spleen and pain in the biliary tract.

Liver Enlargement

• Liver enlargement is a sign of liver failure, but it may not cause other symptoms. The feeling is usually abdominal discomfort.

Liver Encephalopathy

• Liver encephalopathy is a condition where the brain is deteriorating because of toxic substances. The result is confusion, disorientation, drowsiness and possibly a coma.