Most people who have mild NAFLD will not notice any symptoms because the fat build-up is not enough to damage the liver.
A few people complain of tiredness and may feel some pain in the area around the liver (on the right side of the body, under the ribs). The pain may be a sign that the extra fat has made the liver expand.
This stretches the liver’s outer covering and may cause you discomfort. Even people who go on to develop inflammation (NASH), scarring (fibrosis) and cirrhosis may undergo liver damage for many years before symptoms become apparent.
If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately:
- yellowness of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
- bruising easily
- swelling of the lower tummy area (ascites)
- vomiting blood (hematemesis)
- dark black, tarry, faeces (melena)
- periods of confusion or poor memory (encephalopathy)
- itching skin (pruritus)
In acute fatty liver of pregnancy women may experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and jaundice.