Nestled in the upper right portion of your toddler's abdomen, the liver is an essential organ that aids in cleansing the body of toxins and waste. Breakdowns in your toddler's liver function can arise from infections and genetic or congenital disorders. Learning the facts about toddler liver problems, including possible causes, common symptoms and potential treatment options, highlights the important role this organ plays in promoting your child's overall health.
Facts
The liver serves multiple purposes, including removing toxins from your toddler's blood and producing bile, a greenish digestive fluid that helps break down food in the small intestine. According to Dr. Deirdre Kelly, pediatric hepatologist and author of "Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System in Children," liver formation begins during the third week of gestation but babies' livers don't fully function until after birth. In most babies and toddlers, the liver accounts for approximately 5 percent of total body weight.
Causes
Multiple conditions could lead to toddler liver problems, including biliary atresia, hepatitis and Reye's Syndrome. Biliary atresia is a rare liver condition characterized by the inability of bile to leave a baby's liver; it typically shows up during the first few weeks of your baby's life but often leads to ongoing liver problems throughout the toddler years. Hepatitis involves inflammation of the liver that generally occurs as a result of a viral infection; hepatitis A typically occurs more frequently in toddlers than other hepatitis strains. Reye's Syndrome, a condition that develops immediately following a viral infection like chicken pox, affects your toddler's liver by causing a buildup of fat in the liver.
Symptoms
Unfortunately, many toddlers with liver problems show few or no symptoms, which can make identification of liver issues difficult. Some young children with liver problems develop jaundice, which occurs when your child develops a yellowish tint to her skin and eyes; it arises from the buildup of bilirubin, a yellow-tinged substance that results from the breakdown of blood in your toddler's liver. Other signs of liver trouble include dark-colored urine, decreased appetite, pale or clay-colored stool, fever, abdominal pain and vomiting. Signs of Reye's Syndrome may include irritability, confusion, vomiting, convulsions and delirium.
Prevention
Some types of liver problems like biliary atresia can't be prevented, but you can minimize your toddler's chances of developing hepatitis and Reye's Syndrome by taking certain preventative measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children between the ages of one and two years receive a hepatitis A vaccination; the vaccination requires two doses, with the first dose administered between 12 and 23 months of age.Regular hand washing -- especially after changing dirty diapers -- can also help minimize your toddler's chances of developing hepatitis A. Never give your toddler aspirin, as doing so can increase her chances of contracting Reye's Syndrome.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Contact your toddler's pediatrician promptly if you notice signs of liver problems. He'll ask about your child's symptoms and conduct a thorough physical examination; typically, he'll need to draw your toddler's blood and may conduct various liver tests and do a liver biopsy to help identify the cause of your toddler's liver problem. Depending upon the cause, possible treatments include medication, surgery and a liver transplant. According to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, the average cost of a child's liver transplant varies between $150,000 and $200,000.
References
- "Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System in Children"; Dr. Deirdre Kelly; 2008
- American Liver Foundation: Biliary Atresia
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Reye's Syndrome
- "Baby Body Signs"; Joan Liebmann-Smith, Ph.D. & Jacqueline Nardi Egan; 2010
- CDC: Hepatitis A Vaccination FAQ
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital: Financing a Liver Transplant
