Symptoms of an enlarged liver usually indicate that there is inflammation and swelling in the liver resulting from one of a number of potential developing liver illnesses. Anyone who has enlarged liver symptoms should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Regularly, by the time signs and symptoms of liver enlargement can be diagnosed, consequential liver damage has possibly already taken place. If the deterioration is not arrested, it may sooner or later result in liver failure. Once liver failure has happened, a liver transplant is the only way to keep the patient alive.

The medical word for enlarged liver is hepatomegaly.

Liver enlargement is not considered to be a disease. It is more a telltale indication that there's a problem of some kind with liver function.

There are no early signs of hepatomegaly. But if the underlying disorder is not identified and treated, the liver will eventually get so enlarged that the following indications will begin to present themselves.

tenderness in the lower stomach area

a feeling of bloating in the stomach or abdominal areas

fluid accumulation in the abdomen (referred to as ascites)

a sudden disinterest in food

Aching joints and muscles

coughing that's not due to a cold or flu

changes in bowel habits, characterized by episodes of constipation or diarrhea

frequent fatigue and feelings of weakness

vomiting, fever and unsettled stomach

urine may well have a dark, murky appearance

People with indications of an enlarged liver often have above average sensitivity to light called photophobia. The patient's ability to smell may perhaps be heightened, and certain everyday odors could become unpleasant.

Jaundice is one of the rare specific symptoms of a liver malady. When you have jaundice, your skin and the whites of your eyes appear yellow. Jaundice occurs when there's an excessive amount of a bile pigment called bilirubin in the body.. Too much bilirubin destroys liver tissue, resulting in symptoms of liver enlargement.

There are several other ailments which indicate that some kind of liver disease or damage has begun. One is cholestasis, which happens when there's some form of blockage that obstructs the flow of bile from the liver. Another example is portal hypertension, which is unusually high blood pressure in the portal vein. This vein carries blood from the intestines to the liver.

Diagnostic tests are usually required to ascertain the stage to which hepatomegaly has progressed. These tests usually include a liver biopsy, liver function tests, an ultrasound or a CT scan.

On occasion both the liver and spleen get enlarged at once. If this happens, the malady is called hepatosplenomegaly.