The growth of the liver or hepatomegaly is a common symptom which -principally- precedes hepatic cirrhosis, caused by alcoholism or as a sequel to hepatitis (A or B). But which also can indicate the presence of a type of leukemia, parasitism, tumor, anemia, cardiac insufficiency or congenital cardiac disease, besides other metabolic disorders as indicated Dr. Julio Mercado Castruita, Medical Attention Coordinator at the Mexican Social Insurance Institute.

This hepatic growth may be detected by signs such as: fatigue or tiredness, hypoglycemia or low blood glucose concentration, producing the sensation of thirst as well as nervousness, sweat, hand tremor, hunger, confusion, headache, jaundice (yellow pigmentation of the skin), dark colored urine (similar to the color of coffee) and yellow feces.

Mr. Castruita also indicated that hepatomegaly may be diagnosed when the liver increases its size to the point were percussion is detected.

Being alcoholism the main cause of liver growth it is also convenient to know that not all individuals who ingest alcoholic beverages develop this disease: at risk are those individuals whose consumption is more than 6 drinks a day or several times per week.

This alcohol abuse, Castruita explained alters the liver cells which start dying and although the liver has the capacity to regenerate the affected areas, it starts leaving lobes which if alcoholism continues will turn the liver tissue fibrous thus cells will no longer be able to regenerate. Contrary to the first symptom, increase in liver size, the liver starts to shrink meaning that a cirrhosis has developed, which may lead the patient to death.

Dr. Mercado Castruita said also that unfortunately this problem is frequent in rural and indigenous areas, because parents accustom their child, from a very young age, to ingest alcoholic beverages and this added to bad hygiene conditions due to the lack of drainage and latrines, may caused viral diseases such as hepatitis, which represent a dangerous issue for the young population.

The tender in age can also suffer hepatomegaly due to other causes, such as the Reye's Syndrome, which occurs after an infection of the upper respiratory pathways or through varicella (chickenpox), through any of the three types of hepatitis, hepatic abscess, Torch Syndrome or due to an infection of the mother passed on to the fetus or by biliary obstruction.

Lastly, he reminded that the liver is the most voluminous viscera in the body and one of the most important in terms of metabolic activity in the organism. It carries out unique and vital functions such as protein synthesis and absorption, manufacturing the necessary bile for fat digestion and assimilation and possessing a detoxification role and functioning as storage for vitamins and glycogen.