Gut Problems
Common liver problems
Common liver problems in children in the UK usually are associated with viral infections and involve transient inflammation. Hepatitis A, B and C can occur but generally children are now immunised against Hepatitis B, and if they are travelling abroad Hepatitis A. Other viruses can cause liver problems, such as the virus that causes glandular fever – the Epstein Barr virus.If your child presents with jaundice or with liver blood test abnormalities then Dr Thomson would see you and discuss the further investigations which might include abdominal ultrasound, liver excretion scan, further more sophisticated blood tests and other radiological imaging such as MRI scan.
A liver biopsy is sometimes needed and this again will be discussed with you. The more rare liver conditions are best looked after by large liver centres, and these include things like biliary atresia, which presents early in life with jaundice, liver failure and other rarer liver conditions.