Diseases of the Liver – Pediatric

The liver is the largest solid organ and maintains hundreds of vital functions within the body, including filtering/detoxifying the blood, maintaining appropriate glucose levels, aiding in digestion, and production of proteins.

What are Diseases of the Liver?

At Southeastern Gastroenterology, we diagnose and treat many diseases of the liver, including infectious hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, gallstones, Wilson’s disease, and celiac disease.

Symptoms of Diseases of the Liver:

You may be referred for evaluation of liver disease due to abnormal liver lab numbers on routine bloodwork, or you may have noticed signs or symptoms concerning for liver disease, including abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice (abnormal yellowing of the skin or eyes), abnormal weight loss or weight gain, and/or pale-colored stools, among others.

Treatment for Diseases of the Liver:

Some diseases of the liver are treated with supportive care, others with diet and lifestyle modifications, and still others require medications and, rarely, evaluation at a facility with a transplant hepatology team.
The diagnostic work-up for liver disease usually requires bloodwork and abdominal imaging (often an ultrasound). Please come to your doctor’s appointment prepared to answer questions about family history related to liver disease, recent medications, sick contacts, and travel exposures. In instances where the liver is showing signs of inflammation (hepatitis), our team will conduct a thorough work-up to determine the cause of inflammation and initiate treatment when indicated or transfer to a dedicated hepatology facility if necessary.