What are the main causes of liver transplant in children?

Summary:

Liver transplant is the surgical procedure of replacing a damaged liver or a part of with a healthy part coming from a healthy or deceased donor. Some Liver hospitals in India also ha e their own organ banks where the liver of a deceased person can be preserved at a very low temperature and can be transplanted later. Depending upon this liver transplant can be classified as living donor liver transplant and deceased donor liver transplant.

When we usually talk about liver transplants, we naturally associate them with adults however it should be noted that liver transplant is required for chronic liver diseases which can affect both adults as well as children. In other words, a liver transplant can be as helpful in children as in adults. The need for liver transplant in children is not only due to acquired liver diseases but various congenital liver defects as well. You can find a variety of hospitals offering the facility of liver transplant in India.

Article:

Liver transplant is usually recommended for adults but this does not mean that the procedure is not performed on children. Liver transplant is a medical procedure marked by removal of damaged part of a patient's liver and replacing it with a healthy part coming from a suitable donor. In the case of complete liver damage, the whole liver is removed and replaced. In the majority of cases, the donor is either a close family member or someone related by blood. The health of the donor is as important as the health of the patient. Especially in the case of children the procedure can be quite traumatic. Hence the parents have to be very supportive.

Liver transplant in children is usually undertaken in case of serious liver defects and performed only when all other treatment options fail to work or are not able to give desired results.

One of the most common causes of liver transplant in children is biliary atresia which is a very rare disease that adversely affects the liver and bile ducts in infants. The problem usually becomes evident two to eight weeks after the child is born. The problem is marked by an abnormality in the flow of bile juice from the liver to the gallbladder. If the problem is left untreated, it can result in liver failure and the baby might need to undergo a liver transplant.

Congenital conditions, such as Alagille syndrome or cholestatic disorders can also prove to be very fatal for the child and can be treated with the help of a liver transplant.

Viral hepatitis leads to problems like Hepatitis A or infectious jaundice and is usually transmitted via the faecal or oral route. The problem can lead to inflammation of the liver and prevent it from carrying out its functions properly. Any delay in the treatment can prove to be very dangerous for the child. In extreme cases, the patient might even need to undergo a liver transplant by the best doctors (Dr. J. C. Vij).

Hemochromatosis is a chronic disease that leads to excess build-up and accumulation of iron in the body. Although iron is important for the child's growth but only in limited quantities and when the amount of iron exceeds certain limits it can become toxic leading to hemochromatosis. The extra iron can have a negative impact on our liver and damage it beyond repair. As such the child might need a liver transplant.

Alpha-1 anti-trypsin or α1-antitrypsin (A1AT, A1A, or AAT) is one of the most important proteins in our body and its deficiency can lead to serious health issues. Nearly 10 percent of children who suffer from alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency has a tendency of developing chronic liver diseases leading to yellowing of skin and eyes. Treatment procedure involves liver transplant in chronic cases.

Liver cancer is caused by the multiplication and accumulation of unhealthy and cancerous cells on the tissue of the liver which leads to the formation of a tumour. The healthy liver cells are damaged and replaced by cancerous cells and ultimately it leads to liver failure and the patient needs a liver transplant.
Sometimes autoimmune diseases may also be responsible for acute liver failure. This may also be a result of excessive use of certain medicines or drugs.

Genetic and hereditary liver diseases that may be present since birth or passed down through generations respectively are also a major reason that leads to the need for a liver transplant in children.

It is very important for the parents to gain all the necessary information about various liver diseases that can affect their children and look out for any symptoms. If any of the symptoms that experience the child should be immediately taken to a specialist for necessary tests and screenings. Children are very sensitive and such diseases can have a very bad impact even on their mental health. It is important for the parents to understand that there might be a sudden change in the behaviour of the child and he/she might feel irritated most of the time. All these things are natural and go away with time. Even after the transplant is done, the child might need to take anti-rejection medicines throughout his life. The parents need to make sure that all these medicines are taken on time and the diet of the child should also be monitored properly.