How should fatty liver be managed in children?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 20, 2024
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The formation of fatty liver is mainly due to overeating foods that are greasy, overly sweet, or have a high fat content. This leads to a significant increase in fat content in the blood, which accumulates in the liver. Severe fatty liver can progress to cirrhosis, so it is important to intervene promptly. The intervention generally involves dietary management; specifically, children should avoid eating overly greasy foods, as well as high-calorie items like sugars, chocolates, candies, which are better consumed in moderation or not at all. Additionally, increasing physical exercise, which refers to managing and reducing weight, is recommended. Depending on their personal circumstances, children should appropriately increase their amount of physical activity, as more exercise also accelerates the metabolism of fat in the body. It is advised for individuals with fatty liver to undergo a detailed examination at a hospital, and for doctors to determine whether medical intervention is necessary based on the specific conditions of the child. If it is only a mild to moderate case of fatty liver, doctors will likely suggest diet modification or physical exercise to help reduce it.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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How to treat fatty liver disease?

The treatment of fatty liver includes pharmacotherapy, surgical treatment, and dietary and lifestyle management. Since the occurrence of fatty liver is related to various factors, it is important to adhere to the principles of early detection, early diagnosis, early treatment, and comprehensive management. Active measures should be taken to treat the cause of the disease. For example, it is crucial to quit alcohol early, discontinue medications harmful to the liver, monitor the patient's weight, and actively encourage weight loss. In everyday pharmacotherapy, vitamins, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folic acid can be used. Appropriate hepatoprotective medications can also be utilized. In severe cases, liver transplant surgery or weight loss surgery may be necessary.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
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How to deal with fatty liver with elevated transaminases?

First, it is necessary to determine whether the fatty liver is alcoholic or non-alcoholic. If it is non-alcoholic fatty liver with elevated transaminases, lifestyle interventions should be implemented first. Weight loss and exercise can treat fat-associated fatty liver. Generally, it is necessary to control the intake of calories and fats, especially saturated fatty acids, maintain an ideal weight, and exercise sufficiently and consistently. Similarly, if there is a significant increase in blood lipids, lipid-lowering drugs can also be used. Additionally, some liver-protective drugs can be incorporated into treatment. If it is alcoholic fatty liver, abstaining from alcohol is a key treatment, as well as appropriate nutritional support. For long-term alcoholics, since alcohol replaces the calories provided by food, there is generally an insufficient intake of protein and vitamins. Therefore, a diet high in protein and low in fat should be provided, along with appropriate vitamin supplementation, and liver-protective drugs can also be used. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wo Cheng
Hepatology
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What causes fatty liver?

Fatty liver refers to a pathological condition characterized by the accumulation of excessive fat in liver cells, caused by various factors and marked by diffuse fatty changes in liver cells, constituting a clinical syndrome. When too much fat accumulates inside liver cells, it impairs normal liver function, a condition we refer to as fatty liver. The main causes include long-term diets high in fats, calories, and sugars leading to obesity-induced fatty liver, chronic alcohol consumption leading to alcoholic fatty liver, and hereditary obesity factors causing fatty liver. Based on the extent of fatty degeneration in liver cells, fatty liver can be classified into mild, moderate, and severe fatty liver. Fatty liver could potentially lead to liver cirrhosis, which may cause liver cancer. Upon diagnosis of fatty liver, dietary control, abstaining from alcohol, and active exercise are necessary for treatment.

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Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
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What foods should people with fatty liver avoid?

People with fatty liver should avoid overly greasy foods such as fatty meat, pig trotters, braised chicken, and braised duck. It is also important not to consume too much meat or foods high in sugar. Excessive intake of meat and sugar can be converted into fat and stored in the body, leading to high levels of fat. Therefore, control is also needed over the consumption of meat and fruits or foods that are high in sugar.

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Written by Li Xue Qing
Gastroenterology
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What department should I visit for fatty liver?

Fatty liver is a disease that indicates a metabolic disorder and is considered a type of digestive system disease, as well as a liver disease. In top-tier hospitals, there is generally a hepatology department where one can seek treatment at their outpatient clinic. In slightly less equipped county-level secondary hospitals or third-tier hospitals, which do not have a hepatology outpatient clinic, one can visit the gastroenterology outpatient clinic. Additionally, basic health clinics, which do not have a gastroenterology outpatient clinic, require visiting a general internal medicine outpatient clinic.