Liver Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis cannot be undone — but at every stage, treating the cause changes what happens next.
Medically reviewed by the RIIMS medical team · Last updated: June 2026
Go to hospital now
- Vomiting blood, or black tarry stools
- Confusion, drowsiness, or a flipped day-night sleep pattern, sleeping through the day and awake at night, often noticed first by family rather than the patient
- Fever or abdominal pain together with abdominal swelling (ascites)
- Passing very little urine
See a doctor soon (not an emergency)
- New or worsening swelling in the abdomen or legs
- Mild confusion or forgetfulness that is new, even if it seems minor
What does a diagnosis of cirrhosis actually mean?
Cirrhosis means the liver has developed enough scarring to change how it is built and how it works, usually as the end result of years of untreated or ongoing liver damage, most often from fatty liver, alcohol, or chronic hepatitis B or C. Cirrhosis cannot be undone, but at every stage, treating the cause changes what happens next. Doctors describe two broad stages. Compensated cirrhosis means the liver is scarred but still manages to do its job well enough that a person may feel completely normal, sometimes for years, especially if the underlying cause is brought under control. Decompensated cirrhosis means the liver can no longer keep up, and complications appear: fluid collecting in the abdomen (ascites), confusion (hepatic encephalopathy), or bleeding from enlarged veins in the food pipe (variceal bleeding). This shift, from compensated to decompensated, changes the outlook the most. It is also the point where stopping the cause, whether that is alcohol, an untreated viral hepatitis, or uncontrolled fatty liver, still meaningfully changes what happens next, even though the scarring itself remains. Regular monitoring matters throughout, because cirrhosis also raises the risk of liver cancer: an ultrasound and an AFP blood test every six months is the standard surveillance schedule for anyone with cirrhosis, worth keeping to even when you feel entirely well.
Symptoms to watch for
- Often no symptoms for years (compensated stage)
- Tiredness and reduced appetite
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin
- Swelling in the abdomen or legs
- Confusion, forgetfulness or a flipped day-night sleep pattern
- Easy bruising or bleeding
When to consult a doctor
See a doctor for any known or suspected cirrhosis, even if you feel well, so the cause can be treated and cancer surveillance started. Get emergency care immediately for vomiting blood, black stools, new confusion or a flipped day-night sleep pattern, or fever with abdominal swelling.