I am introducing a 28-year-old young man, a computer engineer in Kochi. He got married six months back. He came to me along with his wife and his father. With fear writ on his face and shivering hands and body he sat in front of me. On taking his history I found that he took to alcohol at age 15, initially to give company to his friends. He belongs to a well to do family and his father, a retired naval officer used to go for parties and get-togethers. While he was in the engineering college he used alcohol more frequently. Though he is working in a reputed computer firm now, the heavy work pressure pushes him into alcoholism.
By the time he got married he turned into a full-blown alcoholic. Though his wife curbed his alcohol and he had even given it up. But after his official trip to Singapore he became addicted to it again. His wife brought him to me and detailed examination revealed features of alcoholic hepatitis. Luckily for him his liver had not progressed to cirrhosis.
But with treatment, supportive care and counselling he gave up alcohol completely and all his parameters became normal. He is now the father of a child and has a happy family life.
Alcoholic Liver Disease
Alcoholic liver disease occurs after years of drinking and 20 to 25 per cent get serious liver disease. The initial stage is fatty liver which then progresses to alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Fatty liver is the swelling of liver with fat accumulation, when there is associated inflammation it becomes hepatitis. Acute alcoholic hepatitis may be caused by binge drinking. (5 drinks or more for men and 4 drinks or more for women) It may be life threatening. Continued drinking may lead to cirrhosis (shrinking of liver) which on long-term leads to advanced cirrhosis with fluid accumulation in the abdomen and the infection of this fluid, vomiting of blood, confusion, loss of memory and coma.
Cirrhosis on long-term can lead to liver cancer. Fatty liver and very early cirrhosis are only two reversible conditions provided you stop alcohol. Even if you are a cirrhotic and if you stop alcohol your disease slows down but still progresses. Once you are diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease you should have regular consultation with your doctor. In advanced liver disease liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment.
Kerala has the highest per capita alcohol consumption in India (1.76 gallons per person per year) overtaking Punjab and Haryana. Alcohol consumption is a disease in Kerala. It takes away your health, wealth and family. More and more younger group are
getting addicted to this menace. In the last four years there is four-fold increase in consumption of alcohol in the state.
Spread Awareness Public awareness of this dreaded disease by study classes in schools and colleges will help. Identify the problem at the earliest and consult the specialist and get advise. Regular follow-up is a must for the success of the treatment.
Dr Roy J Mukkada Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist Lakeshore Hospital