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Original poster

Advice on liver enzymes for child please

29 replies

Nogodsnomasters · 04/03/2024 13:04

Hello, please be gentle as I am an absolute wreck.
My son was sick last week with symptoms of lack of appetite, lack of bowel movements, runny nose, (he has a lingering mild cough for 3wks but no temperature), vomited twice on wed and then by Friday had gone downhill so we took him to a&e, he was treated for dehydration and low blood sugar these have been fixed. They did a chest x ray which was clear. His blood test showed raised liver enzymes - at first they said this could be due to the dehydration, over the weekend they have come down but not by very much (23). They have tested for hepatitis but none of the results are back yet, they have tested his stool and urine which were both clear, they have done a nasal swab and despite having the runny nose it's come back clear of respiratory illnesses.
He's due to go for an ultrasound on his liver in an hour and I am an anxious mess because the doctor has just informed us of the actual figure of enzymes for the first time since being admitted, I can't remember which was which as my head is all over the place but one 310! And the other was 120.
Can anyone offer any experience of this and what happened in the end? I have no clue about hepatitis but I am terrified his liver is damaged or he has liver cancer fs. He is 9.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 04/03/2024 13:12

Sorry I know chat isn't the right place for this but my head is all over the place.

OP posts:
mindutopia · 04/03/2024 13:25

What's the normal range for both of those and what exactly are they measurements for? Including the units?

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 04/03/2024 13:28

mindutopia · 04/03/2024 13:25

What's the normal range for both of those and what exactly are they measurements for? Including the units?

The 120 one should be no higher than 40 she said and the 310 one should be no higher than 60. I can't remember, one was called ALT, I can't remember the name of the other - I was struggling to take in what she was saying.

OP posts:

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9 year olds Children's health General health
sanityisamyth · 04/03/2024 13:37

childliverdisease.org/liver-information/tests-and-investigations/

Useful information here.

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 04/03/2024 13:42

sanityisamyth · 04/03/2024 13:37

Thank you, based on reading that the other one was AST along with ALT.

OP posts:
NotAllowed · 04/03/2024 14:34

Try him with some milk thistle and folic acid supplements. It obviously won’t sort it but may help.

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 04/03/2024 15:11

Has anyone experienced this with their own child before?

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DaisyDreaming · 04/03/2024 22:16

How was his scan today? I’ve been thinking of you 💐

iamhopeful · 04/03/2024 22:19

My son was found to have liver enzymes a similar level to your son just 18 months ago, no cause was found and over 3 months they returned to normal levels. I still worry when he’s really tired/pale especially as no underlying cause was identified. Hope you have some clarity tonight

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 05/03/2024 09:58

DaisyDreaming · 04/03/2024 22:16

How was his scan today? I’ve been thinking of you 💐

Thank you they scanned everything in the end his gallbladder, spleen, kidneys, liver, bladder the whole lot but unfortunately said the report with the results wouldn't be available until today and the hepatitis results were STILL not back either from the labs so we are still currently waiting for an answer. They didn't take bloods yesterday as they felt doing it every 24hrs was not giving enough time.

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Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 05/03/2024 09:59

iamhopeful · 04/03/2024 22:19

My son was found to have liver enzymes a similar level to your son just 18 months ago, no cause was found and over 3 months they returned to normal levels. I still worry when he’s really tired/pale especially as no underlying cause was identified. Hope you have some clarity tonight

Thank you so much for this, how old is your son and did they give him an ultrasound of the liver or just continue to check his blood test? I am so glad to hear that by 3 months they had returned to normal levels, what a worry that the reason was never found. Can you recall your son's figures, were they as high as my boy?

OP posts:
Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 05/03/2024 15:30

We've just had the results of his ultrasound, his liver is enlarged, his other organs were all normal. We've still not had the results back of the hepatitis tests. I'm starting to actually wish it is hep now as I know that can be healed over time, if it's not hep they're going to have to do further tests. I'm scared out of my mind.

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iamhopeful · 05/03/2024 22:17

Nogodsnomasters · 05/03/2024 09:59

Thank you so much for this, how old is your son and did they give him an ultrasound of the liver or just continue to check his blood test? I am so glad to hear that by 3 months they had returned to normal levels, what a worry that the reason was never found. Can you recall your son's figures, were they as high as my boy?

Show quote history

Hi, yes his levels were almost at liver failure according to the consultant, it was a terrifying few days. All his ultrasounds were normal, will be hoping you get some answers soon

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 06/03/2024 07:51

iamhopeful · 05/03/2024 22:17

Hi, yes his levels were almost at liver failure according to the consultant, it was a terrifying few days. All his ultrasounds were normal, will be hoping you get some answers soon

Show quote history

That's good that his liver looked normal despite not functioning well. Thank you for replying. I'm so worried that my son's liver being enlarged means something serious is happening. We still haven't had the hepatitis results back.

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Diskobobulated · 06/03/2024 08:30

It could be a reaction to a virus, usually triggered by glandular fever but can be e.g. Covid. DC2 had an enlarged liver, I'm not sure of her values as we were just told "high", "dropping" and "normal again" after about three months. Almost sure it was triggered by Covid as there were a couple off in her class with it.

barleyseed · 06/03/2024 08:34

I was just going to say, when this happened to my son it turned out to be glandular fever. he recovered fully in about 6 months - he was off school for a while due to fatigue, then went back part time.

I have known other children with similar, and it was diagnosed as long covid

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 06/03/2024 09:16

Thank you so much for the replies. My son had COVID in Dec, then a chest infection at the start of this month. I don't think glandular fever as he's not had a sore throat recently. They did do a nasal swab to check for respiratory illnesses but said his was negative despite the fact that he has a snotty nose at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 06/03/2024 09:17

Diskobobulated · 06/03/2024 08:30

It could be a reaction to a virus, usually triggered by glandular fever but can be e.g. Covid. DC2 had an enlarged liver, I'm not sure of her values as we were just told "high", "dropping" and "normal again" after about three months. Almost sure it was triggered by Covid as there were a couple off in her class with it.

Did your dc have an ultrasound that showed it was enlarged or was it just raised enzymes from blood test? Thank you

OP posts:
barleyseed · 06/03/2024 09:21

Nogodsnomasters · 06/03/2024 09:16

Thank you so much for the replies. My son had COVID in Dec, then a chest infection at the start of this month. I don't think glandular fever as he's not had a sore throat recently. They did do a nasal swab to check for respiratory illnesses but said his was negative despite the fact that he has a snotty nose at the moment.

My son never had a sore throat either, with his glandular fever it went from mild viral symptoms that lasted one day, to massive liver problems the following week, The one day was the glandular fever, the liver problems were the complications of glandular fever. He was clear on all swabs, etc as well.

Obviously I can't make any sort of internet diagnosis here, but I hope it reassures you to hear that other children have been through similar and made a full recovery. My son was too tired for school for a few months after coming home, then did part time school for a few months, then was fine, and has been fine ever since - more than 10 years.

Liver check ups also fine

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 06/03/2024 09:33

barleyseed · 06/03/2024 09:21

My son never had a sore throat either, with his glandular fever it went from mild viral symptoms that lasted one day, to massive liver problems the following week, The one day was the glandular fever, the liver problems were the complications of glandular fever. He was clear on all swabs, etc as well.

Obviously I can't make any sort of internet diagnosis here, but I hope it reassures you to hear that other children have been through similar and made a full recovery. My son was too tired for school for a few months after coming home, then did part time school for a few months, then was fine, and has been fine ever since - more than 10 years.

Liver check ups also fine

Show quote history

Wow that's really insightful, how did they decide it was glandular fever in the end if the swabs came back negative and he had no sore throat if you don't mind me asking? I'm sure it's hard to remember 10yrs on. It's really reassuring to hear that other children have had an enlarged liver that has returned to normal. How long did they continue to check on his levels and stuff?

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ExcellentCat · 06/03/2024 09:38

You can test for glandular fever (Epstein-Barr virus) they may well have done this as part of an acute hep screen.
please ignore the poster saying to give milk thistle, there is no evidence to support this & as it is processed by the liver it may cause a liver reaction.

barleyseed · 06/03/2024 09:39

Nogodsnomasters · 06/03/2024 09:33

Wow that's really insightful, how did they decide it was glandular fever in the end if the swabs came back negative and he had no sore throat if you don't mind me asking? I'm sure it's hard to remember 10yrs on. It's really reassuring to hear that other children have had an enlarged liver that has returned to normal. How long did they continue to check on his levels and stuff?

Show quote history

The y found glandular fever antibodies in his blood, indicating he had recently recovered from a glandular fever infection - we had not been aware of anything, just a single day when he had felt mildly under the weather the week before and hadn't wanted to play football, which he usually loved. That is the only time it could have been!

After he was discharged, I think he had a few check ups and blood tests over the next few years, it might have been annual. There was medication he couldn't take for a short while, paracetamol, and a couple of others I think, for about a year. Then after one blood test one day I was told paracetamol and everything is all ok again. And he was discharged.

I was also told it make sure he got immunised against flu for that year or two, and he is still entitled to free immunisations today. I am not sure why! Maybe they just forgot to take his name off the list.

Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 06/03/2024 09:56

barleyseed · 06/03/2024 09:39

The y found glandular fever antibodies in his blood, indicating he had recently recovered from a glandular fever infection - we had not been aware of anything, just a single day when he had felt mildly under the weather the week before and hadn't wanted to play football, which he usually loved. That is the only time it could have been!

After he was discharged, I think he had a few check ups and blood tests over the next few years, it might have been annual. There was medication he couldn't take for a short while, paracetamol, and a couple of others I think, for about a year. Then after one blood test one day I was told paracetamol and everything is all ok again. And he was discharged.

I was also told it make sure he got immunised against flu for that year or two, and he is still entitled to free immunisations today. I am not sure why! Maybe they just forgot to take his name off the list.

Show quote history

Thank you, I haven't even been told not to give him certain medications or anything! I have no idea if they've tested his blood for glandular fever antibodies either. I still can't even get a hold of these hepatitis results for crying out loud. Was your son tested for hepatitis?

OP posts:
Original poster
Nogodsnomasters · 06/03/2024 09:59

ExcellentCat · 06/03/2024 09:38

You can test for glandular fever (Epstein-Barr virus) they may well have done this as part of an acute hep screen.
please ignore the poster saying to give milk thistle, there is no evidence to support this & as it is processed by the liver it may cause a liver reaction.

Hopefully they have but they didn't mention this. Just said his nasal swab was clear for respiratory illnesses, I think that was adenovirus and similar they were checking for.
Yeah I was kind of already ignoring that, I'm not going to give him anything the doctor hasn't advised of. They said his iron was low also but felt it was unrelated and advised a children's iron supplement which I started him on yesterday.

OP posts:
Diskobobulated · 06/03/2024 10:13

No scan, it was on the basis of a physical exam that they ordered blood tests which confirmed it. Was completely off school for 12 days, went back for three days then it was half term, so we didn't do a lot. Off sport until the second blood tests which showed levels were dropping (although I kept off sport in school for longer, I let her do her sports clubs as I trust the coach more!)