Cirrhosis
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
Most people with cirrhosis have few symptoms in the early stages. But as the liver develops more nodules, liver function slows down. Symptoms start becoming more noticeable at this point. As liver function starts to fail, people may experience:
abdominal pain
ascites, or abdominal swelling
depression
fatigue
intermittent mild fever
loss of appetite
loss of sex drive
nausea
unexplained nosebleeds
weakness
weight loss
As cirrhosis progresses through the liver, symptoms become worse. The following problems can occur as a result:
bacterial infections
bruising and/or abnormal bleeding
continuous mild fever
hemorrhoids
itching
jaundice, or a yellowing of the skin and eyes
low blood pressure
muscle wasting
portal hypertension, or increased blood pressure in the liver
sensitivity to medicines, which build up in the body when the liver can't break them down
spider nevi, which are small, red marks that may appear on the skin anywhere above the waist
swelling in the legs
varicose veins, or enlarged, weakened veins, on the stomach and esophagus
As cirrhosis worsens, the person may have a variety of cognitive impairments, or defects in mental functioning. As toxins build up in the brain, cognitive impairment progresses from mild loss of concentration to increasing confusion. The individual may also experience the following impairments:
drowsiness
irritability
lack of interest in people and events
personality changes
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