Signs & symptoms of liver damage or disease

Home Liver health Signs & symptoms of liver damage or disease

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Liver damage and disease symptoms by stage

This information is not medical advice. If you have symptoms, talk to your doctor.
People showing signs of liver problems may experience symptoms based upon the stage of their condition. Symptoms may include:

• mild pain on the right side of the torso,  
• feeling tired, 
• brain “fog”,
• swollen abdomen, 
• yellowing of the skin or eyes, 
• weight loss or loss of appetite. 

Liver damage

Liver cells can become inflamed and damaged in lots of ways. The main causes are: hepatitis viruses passed from person to person; what we eat and drink (eg. alcohol, some herbal medicines, fatty food) and whether we are overweight or have diabetes; or autoimmune disorders

Over time this inflammation can cause liver cells to become damaged, (called liver fibrosis) and other serious liver problems.

Fibrosis 

Cells that are inflamed die and are replaced by scar tissue called fibrosis.

There aren’t usually any symptoms of fibrosis. You might have symptoms of whatever is causing your fibrosis though (see What causes liver damage and disease for more info on the causes of liver damage). If left untreated, fibrosis can develop into liver cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis 

When scar tissue (fibrosis) builds up too much over time, it is called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis increases the risk of liver failure and may require a liver transplant, and greatly increases the risk of liver cancer.

There are two stages of liver cirrhosis: compensated and decompensated.

Compensated cirrhosis has mild or no symptoms. At this point, some of your liver still works well enough to compensate (make up) for the parts of the liver that have scarring. Compensated cirrhosis is very serious and needs urgent care.

If liver damage gets worse, you will get the next stage of liver damage, called decompensated cirrhosis. This is advanced liver cirrhosis and is dangerous. By now you may be feeling tired, have poor appetite and be losing weight.

 Below are the four symptoms of decompensated liver cirrhosis. If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to get help from a doctor, specialist or hospital immediately.

Want to learn more about liver Cirrhosis? Get our free Liver cirrhosis toolkit for patients.

Liver health and hepatitis B:

Hepatitis B is a manageable liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). There is a vaccination for hepatitis B. It’s the most common liver infection in the world, usually passed on from mother to baby during birth, or through exposure to the blood of someone with hepatitis B, usually through unsterile medical procedures. Hepatitis B can be very serious if undetected. Hepatitis B can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis (scarring of liver tissue), or liver failure if it is left unmanaged or untreated. 

Luckily, people with hepatitis B can live healthy lives if they are regularly treated by a doctor, manage their liver health, and get treatment when needed. Learn more about hepatitis B treatment and management.

Liver health and hepatitis C:

Hepatitis C is an easily-cured liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C can be completely cured with treatment. Hepatitis C is passed on by exposure to the blood of someone with hepatitis C, usually through sharing unsterile injecting equipment. The virus is slow acting and symptoms may not appear for many years. If left untreated, hepatitis C can cause long-term health problems, particularly for the liver. If hepatitis C isn’t treated, it can cause liver damage and liver disease. If you think you might have hepatitis C, it’s important to get tested, so you can get cured.

If you have questions about how hepatitis B and C can affect your liver, head over to this page.

Liver damage or disease symptoms

Concerned about the health of your liver? People with a damaged liver or who are suffering from liver disease may experience symptoms. They may also have no signs or symptoms at all. If you think you might have problems with your liver, or are showing any of the signs and symptoms below, you should contact your doctor for more information. 

If you do have liver damage or disease, you might have some very serious symptoms. People with signs of liver damage or disease might develop jaundice, bleeding varices, ascites and encephalopathy. Below we describe each of these symptoms.: 

1. Jaundice (jawn-dis)

Jaundice is yellowing of the skin or eyes. It happens when the liver can’t filter your blood properly. If you get jaundiced you may have a liver infection, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Contact your doctor or specialist immediately and make an appointment to have it checked out.

2. Bleeding varices (vara-sees)

Bleeding varices is bleeding that happens in your oesophagus (food pipe) or stomach, if your liver is very scarred. A build-up of pressure from your liver makes the blood vessels swell and burst. Bleeding varices is very serious and may be life threatening. The symptoms of bleeding varices are vomiting blood or having black, tarry, sticky stools (poo). If you have either of these symptoms you need URGENT MEDICAL HELP.

3. Ascites (ah-sigh-teez)

Ascites is a build-up of fluid in your abdomen (stomach area). It is due to high pressure in the liver. Your abdomen will become very large. It is uncomfortable to eat (because you will always feel full) and breathing may become hard, especially when you are lying down. Some patients who have ascites might have malnutrition (when your body doesn’t get all the nutrients it needs). The ascites fluid can become infected and this is very serious. If you have ascites and have symptoms of sudden stomach pain and fever you need URGENT MEDICAL HELP.

4. Encephalopathy (en-cef-a-lop-a-thy)

Encephalopathy is due to a build-up of toxins in your brain. When the liver can’t filter toxins, the toxins stay in your blood and are carried to the brain. Symptoms of early encephalopathy are changes in mood, concentration, memory and sleeping patterns, as well as flapping hands. You may also have problems with handwriting, doing maths and crankiness. Talk to us if you have these symptoms and contact a Liver Clinic immediately. Symptoms of later stage encephalopathy are confusion, not acting like yourself, and being very sleepy for no reason. If it is severe it can make you become deeply unconscious. This is very serious. If you, or somebody close to you, notices symptoms of later encephalopathy you need to call for URGENT MEDICAL HELP.

Find clinics and doctors in NSW

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Find Help

Contact the Hepatitis Infoline or talk to your doctor for more information 

Have a question about liver health or symptoms related to viral hepatitis and liver damage and disease? Contact the free Hepatitis Infoline or download one of our free online resources now. 

If you feel you are showing any of the symptoms of liver damage or disease, please talk to your doctor. Our resources don’t replace advice from a medical professional.

If you have questions about liver cancer or liver disease, you can call the free Liver Foundation nurse-led support line. Call 1800 841 118 to speak to a friendly, expert liver nurse for advice and support.