Chronic Liver Disease in Children: From Diagnosis to Liver Transplantation

Excerpt

Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a major global health problem, affecting millions of people worldwide. According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, liver diseases accounted for over 2 million deaths and 49 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2019 [1]. The main chronic liver conditions contributing to mortality include cirrhosis, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis. The burden of viral hepatitis may be less of a contributing factor now due to treatment availability for Hepatitis C but is likely to be offset by the increasing burden of Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MA-SLD) previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [2]. The increasing incidence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in children along with other chronic liver diseases is undoubtedly going to contribute to increased mortality in the future years. The burden of CLD is significant and not only does it have a profound impact on individuals and families, but also on economy of healthcare systems. Hence the management of CLD requires a multidisciplinary approach involving pediatric hepatologists, dietitians, surgeons, and other allied healthcare professionals i.e., physiotherapists, family support workers, psychologists, play therapists etc. …