Best Doctors in India for Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment
- Endocrinologist & Diabetologist, Chennai, India
- Over 43 years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Rajendiran N holds an experience of more than 4 decades and expertise in diabetic consulting for chronic patients.
- Dr. Rajendiran specializes in Gestational Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.
- He is the secretary of the Diabetes Association of India (Southern Chapter) and Founder President of Madras Medical College Diabetes Alumni Association.
- ENT Specialist, New Delhi, India
- 35 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- With an illustrious career spanning over 35 years, Dr. Arvind Soni stands out as a highly respected ENT Specialist affiliated with Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha in South Delhi.
- His extensive experience and profound expertise in the field of Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) make him a trusted figure in the medical community.
- Dr. Soni’s academic foundation is rooted in a robust educational background, holding an MBBS, MS, and DLO.
- Top Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeon | Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, India
- 20+ Years Experience
- Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
Profile Highlights:
- Currently associated with Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Dr. Rajesh Watts is a renowned plastic surgeon in Delhi with around 20 years of experience.
- He had completed his MBBS in the year 1990 from Guru Nanak Dev University, and did his MS in General Surgery in the year 1996, from University of Rajasthan. He got his MCh in Plastic Surgery in the year 2003, from Banaras Hindu University.
- Some of the services provided by Dr. Rajesh Watts include instant brow lift treatment, hair loss treatment, hair replacement, hair transplant, etc.
- ENT Surgeon, Chennai, India
- 41+ years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Ganapathy H is a renowned ENT specialist with an impressive career spanning over 41 years, based at Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai.
- Dr. Ganapathy holds an MBBS, MS (ENT), and DLO, and has further distinguished himself with the prestigious MNAMS degree.
- Dr. Ganapathy is skilled in performing various procedures, including ear wax removal, nasal endoscopy, tonsillectomy, septoplasty, and tympanoplasty.
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon, Gurugram, India
- Over 38 years’ experience
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Anil Behl is a distinguished plastic surgeon with an impressive 38-year career dedicated to advancing the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Renowned for his expertise in burns care, complex reconstructive procedures, and aesthetic surgeries, Dr. Behl has built a reputation for excellence and innovation throughout his career.
- Dr. Behl’s career is characterized by his dedication to both patient care and the advancement of surgical techniques, solidifying his place as a leading figure in plastic surgery.
- Plastic Surgeon and Cosmetic Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 27 years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Chepauk Ramesh is one of the best and most experienced Aesthetics and Plastic Surgeons in India, having about two decades of experience.
- Dr. Ramesh completed a fellowship in Microvascular Surgery at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad and Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.
- He gives the best of his assistance to the patients in trauma management, Microvascular Reconstruction, Correction of Congenital Anomalies, Trauma Management, Hand Surgery, Burns Reconstruction, and General and Cosmetic Surgery.
- ENT Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 45 years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Prabhakaran M is one of the best ENT specialists in Chennai, having an experience of more than 45 years.
- He is credited for performing over 4000 endoscopic laserisation of bronchial tumors.
- Dr. Prabhakaran is assisting patients with minor and major surgeries related to ENT.
- Dr. Prabhakaran presided over many regional and national ENT conferences.
- Plastic Surgeon and Cosmetic Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 36 years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Ganapathy Krishnan is a leading Cosmetic or Plastic Surgeon in Chennai and one of India’s most sought-after consultants.
- Dr. Krishnan has been helping patients with the know-how of Reconstructive management for 36 years in this field.
- He received Microsurgery training in Taiwan and practiced for 18 years.
- ENT Surgeon, Chennai, India
- 49 years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. P. S. Reddy is a distinguished ENT Specialist with an impressive 49 years of experience, currently practicing at Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai.
- Holding an MS and DLO, Dr. Reddy brings a wealth of expertise in managing a comprehensive range of ENT conditions, including both common and complex cases.
- Dr. Reddy’s extensive experience encompasses a broad spectrum of ENT issues, from nasal congestion and sore throat to more intricate conditions such as nasal polyps and vocal cord lesions.
- Cardiac Surgeon, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Vascular Surgeon; Chennai, India
- Over 45 years’ experience
- Apollo Hospitals Greams Road
Profile Highlights:
- Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Girinath M R is a senior cardio-thoracic Surgeon in Chennai having experience of more than 45 years in Cardiac Surgery.
- Dr. M R Girinath was a fellow of Coronary Artery Surgery and Congenital Heart Surgery at the University of Wisconsin, USA.
- He provides consultation and diagnostic services for Mitral/Heart Valve Replacement, Cardiac Pacing, Invasive Cardiology, ABPM, Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty, CT Angiography, etc.
Best Hospitals in India for Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment
ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS
Alcoholic hepatitis is a liver infection, which is mainly caused by frequent, heavy use of alcohol. Fat can build up in the liver cells, which might lead to inflammation as well as scarring of the liver.
Alcoholic hepatitis might be mild or severe. A patient might even need a liver transplant if proper treatment is not provided, or if they don’t stop consumption of alcohol.
It is also notable that all heavy drinkers don’t develop this condition, and sometimes this condition even develops in people who drink moderately. However, if you are diagnosed with this condition, it is important for you to quit drinking alcohol. People who continue drinking alcohol might face a huge risk of serious liver damage as well as death.
Symptoms
Depending on the amount of damage to the liver, the symptoms can vary. If you are having a mild form of the disease, you might not even experience any symptoms at all. However, as the damage continues to grow, you might experience the following:
- Changes in appetite
- Dry mouth
- Weight loss
- Pain or swelling in the abdomen
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Changes in your mental state, including confusion
- Fatigue
The symptoms of this condition are similar to those caused by a few other health conditions. Therefore, if you develop any of these symptoms, it is best to get a proper diagnosis as well as begin treatment.
Causes & risk factors
Alcoholic hepatitis generally develops when the alcohol you drink causes damage to your liver. However, it is not clear why alcohol does this damages only to some heavy drinkers.
Few factors that are known to play a role in this condition include:
- The body’s process that breaks down alcohol produces some toxic chemicals
- These chemicals can trigger inflammation that can destroy the liver cells
- Thus, over time, scars replace healthy liver tissue, thus interfering with the function of the liver
- This irreversible scarring, which is also termed cirrhosis, is the final stage of alcoholic liver disease
If you have hepatitis C and continue to drink, even moderately, you are more likely to develop cirrhosis.
Some heavy drinkers are also malnourished because they don’t eat a proper balanced diet. Alcohol and its byproducts also prevent the body from absorbing nutrition properly. Lack of nutrition can contribute to liver cell damage.
Some other risk factors that can lead to this condition include:
- Your sex- Women are usually at a higher risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis since the way alcohol is processed in women is different.
- Binge drinking- Having over five drinks within two hours for men and four or more for women can increase the risk of alcoholic hepatitis.
- Obesity- Heavy drinkers who are overweight are also more likely to develop alcoholic hepatitis and to progress from that condition to cirrhosis.
- Race and ethnicity- Hispanic and Negroid people might be at higher risk of alcoholic hepatitis.
- Genetic factors- According to studies, there may be a genetic component in alcohol-induced liver disease. However, it is difficult to separate genetic and environmental factors.
Diagnosis
If you are showing symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis, your doctor will first inquire about your medical history and alcohol consumption. Next, he/she will perform a physical exam to see if you have an enlarged liver or spleen. They might also need a few more tests to confirm your diagnosis, such as:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Liver function test
- Ultrasound of the liver
- Abdominal CT scan
- Blood clotting tests
In some cases, a liver biopsy might also be needed to confirm the diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis. A liver biopsy requires your doctor to remove a tissue sample from your liver, which is then tested in the lab. This method helps to show the severity and type of liver disease.
Treatment
Stopping alcohol consumption is the most important treatment for alcoholic hepatitis. There is no cure for this condition, but treatment can help in reducing or eliminating symptoms, or stopping its progression.
It is also important to note that scarring of the liver is permanent, but treatment can aim to restore as much function as possible.
Dietary changes
Your doctor might also recommend dietary changes, vitamin supplements, or a focused diet plan to correct the imbalance of nutrients in the body.
Medication
Doctors might also prescribe medicines to prevent inflammation of the liver.
Liver transplant
In severe cases, the only chance for survival may be a liver transplant. Unfortunately, in such cases, the process of finding a donor can be long and complicated.
The best hope of recovery is to be aware of the signs and symptoms as well as to reduce, manage, or if possible, completely stop consumption of alcohol.
Complications
Alcoholic hepatitis might lead to severe other complications such as:
- Enlarged veins (varices)- In this condition, blood that is unable to flow freely through the portal vein, can back up into other blood vessels in your esophagus or stomach.
- Hepatic encephalopathy- This condition can be caused by the buildup of toxins if your damaged liver is unable to remove all the toxins from your body. It involves confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech.
- Ascites- Ascites is a condition in which the fluid that accumulates in the abdomen may get infected and thus, require treatment with antibiotics. Although this condition is not life-threatening, it can be a sign of advanced alcoholic hepatitis, or cirrhosis.
- Kidney failure- A damaged liver affects blood flow to the kidneys, thus resulting in kidney failure.
- Cirrhosis- The scarring of the liver might lead to liver failure.
Prevention
Alcoholic hepatitis might be prevented if you take the following steps:
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all- For healthy adults, moderate drinking means no more than one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than 65, and not over two drinks a day for men aged 65 and younger. However, if you prevent all alcohol, it is a certain way to prevent this condition.
- Check before mixing medications and alcohol- Ask your doctor if it’s safe to drink alcohol while you are taking medications. Consider reading the warning labels on over-the-counter medications as well. Don’t drink alcohol when you are taking medications that warn of complications when combined with alcohol.
- Protect yourself from hepatitis C- Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease that is caused by a virus. If it is left untreated, it may lead to cirrhosis. If you are having hepatitis C and you consume alcohol, you’re generally more likely to develop cirrhosis than if you don’t drink.