Customer question:
What diseases can cause a painful liver? Anonymous customer's question
Pharmacist's answer:
Pain in the area of the liver can be related to various diseases and conditions that affect the liver or nearby organs. Although the liver itself does not have pain receptors, pain in the upper right part of the abdomen can be caused by problems with the liver or neighboring structures.
Some diseases and conditions that can cause painful liver-related symptoms include:
- Fatty liver disease: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can cause liver inflammation and discomfort in the liver area.
- Hepatitis: hepatitis, which can be caused by viral infections (hepatitis A, B, C, etc.), can cause liver inflammation and pain.
- Alcoholic liver disease: Excessive alcohol consumption can cause alcoholic liver disease, including alcoholic hepatitis, which can cause liver pain.
- Cirrhosis: Advanced liver scarring or cirrhosis can cause liver discomfort, especially in the later stages of the disease.
- Gallbladder Diseases: Gallbladder problems such as gallstones or inflammation (cholecystitis) can cause pain in the upper right part of the abdomen that can be mistaken for liver pain.
- Liver abscess: An abscess, which is a collection of pus in the liver, can cause pain, fever, and other symptoms.
- Liver cancer: Primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) or metastatic cancer that has spread to the liver can cause liver pain when tumors grow and affect the liver.
- Hepatic hemangioma: A benign liver tumor known as a hemangioma can cause discomfort.
- Hemochromatosis: Hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes excess iron in the liver, can cause hepatomegaly and liver pain.
- Wilson's disease: this rare genetic disorder can cause a build-up of copper in the liver and liver-related symptoms, including discomfort.
- Autoimmune liver diseases: Conditions such as autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis can cause liver inflammation and discomfort.
- Infectious diseases: some infections, such as glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis), can cause liver inflammation and pain.
- Musculoskeletal Pain: Sometimes discomfort in the liver area may not be related to the liver itself, but may be due to muscle tension, rib problems, or other musculoskeletal factors.
It is important to know that liver pain can vary in intensity and can be accompanied by other symptoms such as jaundice, nausea or changes in the bowels. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment depend on identifying the specific cause of the discomfort. If you or someone you know is experiencing liver-related pain, it is critical to seek medical attention for a thorough evaluation and diagnosis.
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