Which Children Need a Liver Transplant?
The severity of disease necessitating transplant is indicated by the following symptoms:
- Progressive jaundice — yellow staining of the skin, whites of the eyes, deep tissues, and excretions
- Severe ascites — accumulation of fluid leaking from the liver and small intestine into the abdomen
- Growth failure
- Encephalopathy — disorders of the brain due to a build-up of toxic material usually removed form the blood by the liver
- Variceal bleeding — blood loss from swollen, malformed blood vessels (varices) in the abdomen
- Intractable pruritus — severe itching
- Uncorrectable coagulopathy — blood disorders that cause abnormal clotting
Please visit our Health Library to find out more about these symptoms.