Acute Liver Failure
One of a vital organ of the human body is the liver. The liver is a largest glandular organ in the body and has multiple critical roles. Liver maintains the body of toxins and harmful substances, also liver produces bile that helps to digest fats. Without a healthy liver, life is not possible. Once the liver is damaged, because a virus or harmful chemicals or for any other reason, it will lose its ability to function and it is called liver failure is a life-threatening condition. There are two kinds of liver failure: acute and chronic. Acute liver failure happens when liver cells are damaged and unable to function. Khokhar and Niazi (2012) defined Acute liver failure is a severe medical emergency causing from numerous insults
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The etiology acute liver failure of differs geographically with paracetamol (acetaminophen) hepatotoxicity the leading reason in both the UK and the US, followed by seronegative hepatitis (non-A-E hepatitis). Universal, viral hepatitis A, B and E are the greatest common causes of acute liver failure (Sargent, 2010). However, there are several factors that causing the acute liver failure, although in some cases of acute liver failure there is no particular reason. But common factors that cause acute liver failure include: Acetaminophen overdose (Taking too much acetaminophen such as Tylenol, after one very large dose every day for several days),Prescription medications( Some prescription medications, including antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and anticonvulsants can cause acute liver failure),Herbal supplements, Hepatitis and other viruses(Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis E can and other viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus cause acute liver failure),Toxins (poisonous wild mushroom can cause acute liver failure),Autoimmune disease, Diseases of the veins in the liver( such as Budd-Chiari syndrome, can cause acute liver failure),Metabolic disease, and Cancer. As a nurse, it is vital that the history taking is precise and should contain a careful review of the possibility of contact to viral infections, as well as pharmacological therapies counting those prescribed, over the counter and herbal and Chinese therapies. If patients have progressive hepatic encephalopathy then this information may requisite to be taken from families (Sargent,