Symptoms of autoimmune liver disease
Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the body’s healthy cells. There are 3 autoimmune liver diseases that can happen in children.
The information on this page is for:
- Parents of children with autoimmune liver disease or suspected autoimmune liver disease.
- Young people with autoimmune liver disease or suspected autoimmune liver disease.
- Family, friends, carers, and healthcare professionals.
The symptoms of autoimmune liver disease will vary from child to child. Some children will appear well and active. They may show no symptoms. Others will be very ill. They may show signs of liver failure.
On this page:
Common symptoms
The most common symptoms of autoimmune liver disease are:
- tiredness (fatigue)
- generally feeling unwell
- loss of appetite
Other symptoms
Other symptoms may include:
- feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting)
- tummy (abdominal) pain
- yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
- dark wee (urine) and pale poo (stools)
- joint and muscle pain
- weight loss
- itching (pruritus)
- high temperature (fever)
- nose bleeds, bleeding gums and bruising easily
- delayed starting of periods or periods that stop once started (amenorrhoea)
- loose, watery poo (diarrhoea) – (bowel symptoms are more common in ASC)
Symptoms that can appear as the condition progresses
Symptoms can include:
- swollen tummy (ascites)
- swelling, especially in the lower legs, ankles and feet (oedema)
- irritability, confusion and mood changes
Children with AIH after a transplant are usually well with no symptoms.
The condition is often picked up on blood tests.
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This content was last reviewed: June 2025
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We would like to thank everyone who helped with creating and reviewing this page. This information has been produced with input from the three specialist paediatric liver centres in the UK. And with parents and families.
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Everyone’s experience of liver disease will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.
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