What are the different types of pediatric liver disease?

There are many types of pediatric liver diseases, some of which require a transplant. Below is a list of both genetic and acquired diseases:Biliary Atresia – a condition in which the bile ducts that drain bile from the liver to the intestine are blocked or absent.Alagille’s Syndrome – an inherited disease in which the bile ducts inside and outside of the liver gradually disappear.Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency – an inherited disease wherein children lack an enzyme, alpha-1 antitrypsin that helps break down proteins.Chronic Active Hepatitis – Chronic hepatitis and eventually cirrhosis may occur when liver cells are damaged by the hepatitis B (HBV) or C virus (HCV). Acute Viral Hepatitis – Hepatitis A, B and C are all examples of acute viral hepatitis. Acute viral hepatitis presents with “flu like” symptoms and jaundice. In addition, patients experience fatigue, itching, upset stomach, a low grade fever and dull pain on the right side of the abdomen.Autoimmune Hepatitis – a form of hepatitis that is associated with circulating autoantibodies which are present for at least six months. This form of hepatitis is probably related to an abnormal immunologic mechanism.Fulminant Hepatitis – A small group of patients (less than one percent) may develop fulminant hepatitis in which the patient will fall into a coma. The cause of this type of hepatitis is unknown, and there is no specific treatment available.Toxic Liver Failure – The most common cause of toxic liver failure is excessive ingestion (overdose) of acetaminophen (Tylenol). Tyrosinemia – is inherited from both parents as an inborn error of metabolism. Early liver transplantation is indicated for these patients because of a high incidence of secondary liver cancer.Glycogen Storage Diseases – are due to a deficiencies of one of the enzymes that break down glycogen (the starch in which sugars are stored in the liver.) Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis – usually presents in late childhood with an enlarged liver, portal hypertension and esophageal varices. Prolonged Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC) – These diseases, which include Byler’