Signs & Symptoms of Liver Problems in Children

Liver disease is a serious condition at any age, especially when it happens to a child. There are a number of symptoms you can watch for if you are concerned your child may be ill with liver disease.

Ascites

• One symptom that is common is children who are ill with liver disease is ascites. This is when fluid accumulates in the abdomen causing it to become bloated, blocking blood flow to the portal vein of the liver.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding

• Bleeding in the intestine is another common symptom in children who are suffering with liver disease. The bleeding is caused by hypertension in the vein leading the liver and is most common is patients with scarred livers. This causes bleeding to back up into the spleen.

Encephalopathy

• Neurological symptoms are also symptoms of liver disease in chidlren. Some patients may slip into a coma or cannot communicate clearly due to states of consciousness.

Discoloration

• Stool that is bloody, back and tarry, maroon or bright red is also a sign that a child may have liver disease. If his or her skin appears yellow that is also a sign of jaundice.

Itching

• Rashes and itchy skin can result in liver disease, this is know as "pruritus." This conditions is caused by excess bile in the blood stream and can cause a rash on anywhere on the body including the face, ear canals and the bottoms of feet.

Malnutrition

• Despite how a child is eating, liver disease can cause malnutrition because the body is not properly digesting food and removing toxins.