Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Symptoms

Published on Mar 01 2010, in the categories: Liver Disease, symptoms

On the alcoholic fatty liver disease symptoms axis there is much to be said. First of all, yes, alcohol is a major cause for liver disease and, of course, for fatty liver, but there is more to it. Thus, if you are interested in the alcoholic fatty liver disease symptoms connection, read on.



Hepatic steatosis or fatty liver is considered one of the most common liver diseases and is caused by a wide range of factors. Alcohol remains the main cause for steatosis, as well as obesity and diabetes. Studies by doctors demonstrate that hepatic steatosis is an early and constant complication of alcoholism in moderate drinkers, hardcore drinkers developing a disease called cirrhosis.


The amount of ingested alcohol is the most important risk factor in the development of steatosis. Specialists say a 80 ml quantity of alcohol consumed daily for several years favors the occurrence of hepatic steatosis. Thus, it was observed that women often develop the disease. In combination with alcohol, an enabling role in the occurrence of this disease is each patient's genetic condition.

In time, there is a significant increase in chronic viral hepatitis type C in patients with fatty liver disease. The combination of hepatitis C virus infection and alcohol affects your liver more than alcohol alone. Such patients have a lower survival rate and develop the disease at younger ages. Hepatitis C infections cause a serious risk to develop liver cancer in patients with cirrhotic liver. Moreover, this infection contributes to increasing the severity of steatosis.

The evolution of steatosis is favorable, the only chance of a complete cure being the complete abstinence from alcohol for 5-6 weeks. However, in chronic alcoholics, steatosis is associated with alcoholic hepatitis and, in such cases, hepatocellular insufficiency occurs. The disease also affects obese people, as well as patients with diabetes. Most times, the disease has no symptoms, only the fact that the patient complains of epigastric pain, possibly sensitive to palpation and jaundice rarely occurs. In the final stages of alcoholic liver disease, the patient's only chance of survival is a liver transplant. Six months of abstinence from alcohol is a necessary requirement for liver transplantation.

Fatty liver is one of the most common liver diseases and in one of 4 patients the illness progresses to a more serious stage of the disease. In fact, fatty liver disease means that an excess of fat accumulates in liver cells and the liver is not functioning as it would normally. Some patients diagnosed with the disease sometimes reach steato-hepatitis and then fibrosis, which are severe stages of the disease.


Hepatic steatosis, as steato-hepatitis, can be cured if the patient wants it, because the liver tissue can regenerate. The same cannot be said for a patient who has already reached fibrosis, a complicated stage of the disease. Fibroses are some scars that appear in the liver due to inflammation. These scars take out entire sections of liver tissue. Once fatty livers found, the patient will be regularly monitored. Such patients must observe a sanitary regime, food, lifestyle and medication treatment. Even if the disease does not heal, doctors can prevent it from getting worse. Drug treatment is closely linked to the food diet.

Legionnaire’s Disease Symptoms

Published on Mar 01 2010, in the categories: Legionnaire

This disease, also known as the Legionellosis is caused by the bacteria Legionella pneumophila. It is a serious lung infection, which in some cases can be fatal. Legionnaires' disease was first observed in 1976 in the United States, in a hotel in Philadelphia, among participants at a congress of former combatants belonging to the American Legion.



Contamination. The bacteria responsible for Legionnaires' disease, named "Legionella pneumophila, survives in aquatic or damp environment, especially water condensed from air conditioning systems or water distribution pipes in urban areas. Infection occurs after inhalation of very fine droplets of contaminated water, e.g. during the shower.


The risk of contamination is greater in the presence of certain factors: smoking and alcoholism, diabetes, weakened immune system (immune system) and chronic respiratory insufficiency. Outbreaks of legionellosis occur only when the mode of contamination is linked to an air conditioning system or water distribution (return). Appropriate modern hotels, equipped with central air conditioning and water distribution, especially for showers are some of the places where you can contact this disease.

Legionnaires disease can break out in hospitals, which are also equipped with central air conditioning systems. But this way of contamination is very rare and not only seriously affects people whose immune system is weakened. Before the outbreak in 1976, in that hotel in Philadelphia, Legionnaires' disease had been responsible for other outbreaks of pneumonia, without the bacteria in question being identified.

Symptoms. Legionnaire’s disease symptoms are: headaches, temperature growth, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough, moderate fever and a state of general malaise. Then, within days the Legionnaire’s disease symptoms consist of fever grow, muscle pain and fatigue. Pneumonia is manifested by chest pain, difficulty breathing and cough with expectoration.

This stage lasts about a week, when the disease is treated in time and occurs in people younger or without health problems, then progress to cure this disease. Instead, in the absence of treatment or to those extremely fragile, respiratory disorders worsen. Cough becomes productive in this situation, the patient was delirious and general condition deteriorates.

Diagnosis and treatment. Seriousness of the disease the patient should be hospitalized. Diagnosis is established by evidence the bacteria "Legionella pneumophila" in sputum or bronchial secretions harvested from the bronchi using a device.The antibiotics are administrated intravenously, especially in severe cases. It enables a rapid evolution favorable to younger patients and those without health problems until disease, but it should last at least 15 days, sometimes 3 weeks.

In severe forms may be needed assisted respiration in resuscitation service. Despite treatment, Legionnaires' disease is sometimes fatal to the elderly or those whose general condition is deteriorating. And where the epidemic was in Philadelphia when 29 died of former Legionnaires who had health problems are or were elders.


Prophylaxis. Constant supervision and disinfection of air conditioning and water distribution is the most effective preventive measures. Cooling aims regulation of temperature, humidity or dry conditions excessive air Modern Buildings, including hospitals, and its purification by filtration. This modern technology has, as shown, insidious effects. In fact, it may encourage the growth of microbes such as Legionella bacteria that has adapted extremely well to the humidity of air conditioning installations, enabling the contamination of those who occupy the buildings equipped with air conditioning.
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