RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Fifteen-minute consultation: liver disease in children
JF Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition
JO Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 170
OP 176
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2017-313036
VO 103
IS 4
A1 Jake P Mann
A1 Kathy Gallagher
A1 Emer Fitzpatrick
A1 Anil Dhawan
YR 2018
UL http://ep.bmj.com/content/103/4/170.abstract
AB Liver disease in children can present in many ways from the frequently encountered prolonged neonatal jaundice to the comparatively rare acute liver failure. In this article, we will discuss ‘red flags’ of liver disease, the initial investigations required and when to refer to a specialist liver centre. Across all presentations, the degree of elevation of alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase provides only little diagnostic information. Measurement of clotting is vital, and coagulopathy should be followed by a trial of intravenous vitamin K before being repeated.