Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: How to Care for Your Child
Kids with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have a buildup of fat in the liver. The liver is also inflamed (swollen). Over time, NASH can lead to scarring of the liver and liver failure. Losing weight through healthy diet choices and regular exercise can help NASH get better.
Healthy Eating
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Prepare meals at home when possible. Limit trips to restaurants and fast-food places.
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Eat together as a family as often as possible.
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Offer nutritious meals and snacks. Follow your health care provider's advice on the right portion sizes for your child.
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Teach your child to read food labels so he or she can limit sugar, salt, cholesterol (found in meat, eggs, whole milk, butter, and cheese), and saturated fats (found in meat, butter, shortening, lard, cheese, and whole milk).
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Teach your child to avoid trans fats (found in baked goods, fried foods, stick margarines, and shortening).
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Serve whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, and some "healthy" fats, like those in olive oil and nuts. Encourage your child to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
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Don't give your child soda, sugary drinks, or juice.
Other Healthy Habits
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Help your child to be physically active for at least 1 hour every day.
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Make family rules about screen time. Don't let screen time get in the way of being active, getting enough sleep, and connecting with family and friends.
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Kids who get enough sleep are less likely to be overweight. Help your child get enough sleep:
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If your child or anyone else at home smokes, go to smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to get help quitting.
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Give any prescribed medicines or vitamins as directed by the health care provider. Do not give any other medicines without checking with the health care provider first.
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Be sure your child gets all immunizations as recommended by the health care provider.
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Keep regular follow-up appointments with your health care provider. This way, your child's weight and liver can be checked regularly.
Your child:
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is unwilling to make changes in his or her diet and exercise routine
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is thirstier, drinks more, and is peeing more often than usual
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snores
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has very low energy
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seems sad or not interested in doing things he or she used to enjoy
What causes NASH? Doctors and scientists think that NASH usually comes from being overweight. People who have diabetes also are more likely to get NASH, and it can run in families.
How do health care providers diagnose NASH? If a child is overweight, health care providers usually do blood tests. Sometimes, they'll order a liver biopsy (taking a tiny sample of the liver for testing in a lab) or imaging tests (such as an ultrasound, CT, or MRI).
Do kids with NASH have symptoms? Most kids with NASH don't have any symptoms. But sometimes NASH can cause low energy or belly pain.
Can NASH lead to other problems? Some people with NASH develop liver scarring (called cirrhosis) and liver failure. The best way to prevent these and to live a healthier life overall is for your child reach a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet, and get plenty of exercise.