Do people with cirrhosis and their family members need to use separate bowls and chopsticks when eating?

Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

Updated on November 24, 2024

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Patients with cirrhosis and their family members do not necessarily have to use separate bowls and chopsticks when eating. The causes of cirrhosis include infectious and non-infectious cirrhosis. Among infectious cirrhosis, some are transmitted through blood and others through fecal-oral transmission. Only diseases transmitted via the fecal-oral route require separate bowls and chopsticks, such as hepatitis A and hepatitis E. These types require separation from family members during meals. However, hepatitis B, or some non-infectious types such as alcoholic hepatitis, do not require the use of separate eating utensils.

Other Voices

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Written by Huang Gang

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The difference between fatty liver and liver cirrhosis

Fatty liver is shown through ultrasound as having an increased and finely detailed echo in the liver, which is completely different from liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis is generally caused by the progression of chronic hepatitis, commonly seen in hepatitis B-related cirrhosis, hepatitis C-related cirrhosis, and alcoholic cirrhosis. Cirrhosis resulting from drug-induced liver damage or from severe fatty liver is relatively rare in clinical practice. Therefore, we should not panic. Once diagnosed with fatty liver, it can be reversed through proper diet and reasonable exercise, and its progression to liver cirrhosis can be prevented. So, everyone, there is no need to rush or panic.

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Written by Si Li Li

Gastroenterology

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Can severe cirrhosis be cured?

Severe cirrhosis is understood to refer to the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, which is the later stage of the condition, primarily characterized by the hardening of the liver. Additionally, it presents a series of bodily complications such as ascites, as well as esophageal and gastric varices caused by portal hypertension. Sometimes, because of these varices, accidental rupture can occur during eating, leading to severe bleeding, which is a major upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage — a very dangerous complication. If this bleeding is not controlled, it can become life-threatening. Moreover, the skin may display spider nevi, and palmar erythema can appear on the hands; these are common manifestations and complications during the decompensated phase of cirrhosis. Thus, cirrhosis is not curable. Treatment focuses on symptomatic relief to minimize discomfort caused by the symptoms, but the disease itself cannot be cured.

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Written by Huang Ya Juan

Gastroenterology

2min 16sec

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Early symptoms of cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is generally divided into compensated and decompensated stages: The compensated stage is actually an early stage of liver cirrhosis. During this stage, most patients do not show symptoms, or they may experience some mild symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, etc. Decompensated stage: Early stages often present with fatigue and weakness, and later stages can include weight loss, loss of appetite, aversion to oily foods, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, fever, etc.; The liver is the only site of albumin synthesis, and during cirrhosis, reduced serum albumin can cause edema and ascites; the liver synthesizes most clotting factors, and cirrhosis can lead to coagulation disorders, clinically manifesting as gum bleeding, skin bruising, and nosebleeds; During cirrhosis, there can also be metabolic disorders of bilirubin and bile acids, leading to jaundice; Cirrhosis can also cause hormonal metabolic abnormalities, especially in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, who may exhibit many characteristics of male dysfunction, including impotence, erectile dysfunction, testicular atrophy, loss of body hair and muscle mass, feminization, etc. Female patients may experience cessation or reduction of menstruation, excessive menstruation, infertility, etc.; Both male and female patients can develop osteoporosis, leading to spontaneous fractures.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu

Gastroenterology

47sec

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What is the difference between the symptoms of cholecystitis and the symptoms of cirrhosis?

The symptoms of cholecystitis differ significantly from those of cirrhosis. The symptoms of cholecystitis mainly manifest as pain in the upper right abdomen, along with chills and fever, while the symptoms of cirrhosis primarily include fatigue, poor appetite, and may also present with jaundice, abdominal distension, and swelling of the lower limbs. To determine whether a patient has cholecystitis or cirrhosis, it is recommended to visit the gastroenterology department of a standard hospital as soon as possible for a comprehensive examination. This should include abdominal imaging, liver function tests, complete blood count, among others, to further clarify the diagnosis and adopt corresponding treatment measures.

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Written by Si Li Li

Gastroenterology

1min 7sec

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Will early-stage cirrhosis cause lower back pain?

In the early stages of cirrhosis, there are generally no specific symptoms. Some patients may experience symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and aversion to oily foods. Typically, symptoms do not include lower back pain. However, if lower back pain occurs, it is necessary to consider and rule out diseases that frequently cause this symptom. Firstly, conditions such as lumbar muscle strain; secondly, issues like lumbar disc herniation or lumbar spine diseases; thirdly, kidney-related diseases, such as kidney stones, etc. Therefore, it is essential to first determine the cause of the lower back pain, or from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, whether the pain is related to kidney deficiency? Then, a differential diagnosis can be made, followed by treatment. This approach will ensure more effective therapeutic outcomes.