The liver plays a crucial role in processing and breaking down various substances in the body, including medications, chemicals, and toxins. Because of this, it is particularly vulnerable to damage when these substances are ingested, injected, or inhaled. This damage can range from mild changes in liver function, which might not cause any symptoms, to severe liver failure, which can be life-threatening.
It’s essential to consider the possibility that a child’s liver issues might be linked to exposure to drugs or toxins at home, or even from a parent’s workplace. In some cases, liver injury might be the only sign of a reaction to a drug or toxin, while in others, it might be accompanied by symptoms affecting other parts of the body.
In hospitalized children, it can sometimes be difficult to tell if liver problems are due to the illness they are being treated for or if they are a side effect of the medications they are taking. Among the different drugs that can cause liver injury, acetaminophen (often found in pain relievers) is a common culprit. Additionally, antibiotics (which are used to treat infections) and medications affecting the brain and nervous system are frequently linked to liver damage in children.
