Diseases of the liver and bile ducts are all that are treated by the hepatologist, who is a necessary and especially important health worker. Usually, the patient rarely comes to such a specialist individually for help. As a rule, a gastroenterologist or therapist sends to this doctor.
When you need to see a hepatologist
The liver is considered a rather special organ, which, in essence, needs the assistance of a narrow-profile professional. Often, a gastroenterologist cannot give an accurate conclusion, because the diagnosis of liver diseases is complicated by other ailments of the abdominal organs. The hepatologist himself will already ask certain questions to the patient about his symptoms, will examine and give direction to the necessary studies. You should sign up to the doctor with the following symptoms:
- loss of appetite;
- itchy skin;
- reduced weight;
- constant intoxication;
- pain in the liver;
- dark circles under the eyes;
- fever;
- discoloration of urine to brown;
- color of feces - light brown;
- bad sleep;
- yellowing of the eyeballs and mucous membranes.
It is also worth considering if the patient noticed these signs on time and correctly reacted to them, then in most cases a favorable course of the disease is possible.
Some indicators of ailments
Peculiar male symptoms, probably indicative of problems with the liver, are an increase in the abdomen, which begins to resemble a "beer barrel", and a decrease in sexual functioning. In women, the mammary glands enlarge. And it follows that the liver treats the hepatologist.
Patients with cirrhosis of this organ also suffer from bleeding and swelling of the gums, the occurrence of chronic pain in the abdominal cavity, as well as some absent-mindedness, inability to focus on work or other lengthy workouts due to the endless feeling of general fatigue.
Often, in the initial stages of liver disease, patients simply ignore the above symptoms. However, if the state of fatigue lasts for a week or more, and also hurts the stomach, then you need to urgently see a doctor.
How to prepare for a specialist visit
This health worker has to carefully understand all the indicators of the patient, get acquainted with his life and work. One has to take into account all the patient’s ailments (in particular, the viral form), determine chronic diseases, study the medicines used by the patient (especially those that are used on the advice of friends or relatives). There are certain stages of preparation for a conversation with a doctor.
- It is required to take a shower, and also to put on clean clothes.
- Take research findings and past medical examinations with you.
- Do not eat food 5-7 hours before the start of the consultation for examinations of the liver, as well as other organs.
- It is forbidden to take alcohol (even minimally), fatty, fried and salty foods (this mainly affects the occurrence of disorders of the liver).
- You need to prepare a medical card.
Hepatologist consultation
At the appointment, the doctor will necessarily ask about the presence of symptoms and listen to all the patient's complaints. In addition, the specialist will perform a palpation study to detect superficial impairment of liver function, if any. Also, the hepatologist can prescribe tests and, if necessary, offer the patient to lie in a hospital for a special examination. Another doctor will give instructions regarding lifestyle and prescribe medications.
Tests and examinations
A hepatologist prescribes studies depending on the condition of the patient. They may be as follows:
- Ultrasound of the liver;
- encephalography;
- computed tomography of the abdominal cavity ;
- blood analysis and biochemistry;
- urinalysis;
- puncture biopsy of the liver ;
- hemoglobin;
- test for the detection of viruses and their effectiveness.
Specific examinations prescribed by the hepatologist are esophagoscopy (examination of the esophagus by means of an auxiliary tube), as well as colonoscopy (examination of the rectum using a colonoscope). All of the above diagnostics will help to know the state of health of the whole body and liver.
Today, “advanced” patients already know that they should not go to the doctor without the results of major tests.
Study "liver profile"
To determine liver diseases, you need to do this special blood test for biochemistry, which will reveal the level of:
- bilirubin (increases with jaundice - a disorder of the outflow of bile);
- aspartate aminotransferase (a leading catalyst produced by liver red blood cells, whose work is directly connected with inflammatory developments in the organ);
- alanine aminotransferase (hepatic enzyme, the level of which rises with cirrhosis);
- the presence of a C-reactive protein (its detection during tissue destruction may confirm cirrhosis itself);
- gamma-glutamyltransferase (a protein produced by the liver and significantly increasing in the blood with systematic and prolonged use of alcohol).
A hepatologist usually prescribes to have a fasting blood test in the morning. 2 hours before the study, it is forbidden to drink coffee, tea or juice, chew gum and smoke. It is also important 3 days before the test to avoid taking alcohol, to exclude large physical exertion and overstrain.
What does the hepatologist treat?
Knowing the symptoms of the patient, the specialist makes a diagnosis and prescribes further therapy. The doctor treats diseases such as:
- cholangitis;
- enteroviral hepatitis;
- cirrhosis;
- jaundice;
- Gilbert's syndrome;
- gallstone disease;
- hemochromatosis;
- infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr disease);
- hepatitis C and B (chronic and acute);
- leptospirosis (Weil-Vasiliev disease) ;
- fatty hepatosis;
- toxoplasmosis (rodents tolerate).
The most popular liver diseases
A little earlier, it was about what the hepatologist treats, but now you can find out what are the main liver ailments that people most often get sick with.
The liver in the human body performs the function of the determining laboratory, the organ of hematopoiesis and digestion. Its direct performance is combined with other organs and the entire system of the human body. Revealing her defeat is also countless, diverse and atypical. Often, such indicators of the disease are hidden under others, and the patient, with a delay, resorts to the services of a medical professional.
What diseases affect the liver the most? Specialists distinguish 3 ailments:
- cirrhosis;
- hepatitis;
- cholecystitis.
Cirrhosis of the liver
It is considered the most severe and serious disease - any hepatologist can say this. Moscow is precisely the city where various measures are being taken to treat this ailment.
Usually cirrhosis is formed as a result of long consumption of alcoholic beverages, when the body no longer copes with the removal of poisons. However, not completely cured hepatitis can also lead to cirrhosis. Instead of healthy hepatic red blood cells, which are constantly being restored, so-called connective matter is formed. Because of its structure, it cannot perform the functions that are assigned to the liver. The body in this regard begins to give significant disruptions.
Hepatitis
You can protect yourself from such a disease if you follow the minimum hygiene conditions and also do not drink dirty liquid. Hepatitis is an inflammatory ailment: a virus enters the body, which causes the disease. Still, the disease can form due to the intake of alcohol. Any surgeon-hepatologist can tell about this with confidence. Incorrect use of certain medications can also provoke hepatitis (severe poisoning of the body occurs).
Cholecystitis
This disease usually appears as a result of inflammation of the gallbladder. There is also a metabolic disorder in the body, bile ducts become clogged, and inflammation increases as a result of bile retention.
What is the price of consultation in Russia
A visit to a hepatologist in the capital will cost approximately 2500-3000 rubles on average. Subsequent therapy and its cost should already be agreed with the specialist at the reception. It is also worth considering that hepatologists are considered doctors of a rare profession, and that's why they determine the prices for treatment on their own. And both a pediatric hepatologist and an adult today will cost an average person quite expensive.
Hepatologist Tips
- For the prevention of hepatitis category C and B, do not use tap water, unwashed fruits and vegetables.
- Do not forget that you should always wash your hands before meals and after visiting the toilet.
- You can not have sex without a condom with a partner suffering from hepatitis of any group, and also resort to anal sex. Or when a woman has critical days.
- Safety glasses should be worn (for example, to a surgeon, dentist or medical laboratory assistant) before starting work, because infected blood, penetrating the mucous membrane of the eyeball, immediately exposes the hepatitis virus.
- If the patient is ill with cirrhosis of the liver, then he needs to control the regularity of the stool, which should be twice a day.
- Another hepatologist, reviews of which are left by patients, may recommend monitoring the amount of fluid drunk and excreted. If less is consumed, but more is consumed, then an urgent need to consult a doctor.
A general prevention of malaise of the liver, as well as the biliary tract, is a diet with a reduced content of fatty, spicy, fried, and a small amount of alcoholic drinks or their complete absence (an exception may be red wine - 1 glass once every 7 days).