Jaundice is a term used to describe the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. It's caused by a build-up of a substance called bilirubin in the blood and body's tissues. Any condition that disrupts the movement of bilirubin from the blood to the liver and out of the body can cause jaundice. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is formed by the breakdown of dead red blood cells (RBC) in the liver. There are several ways that a build- up of bilirubin can occur:
References: www.nhs.uk
www.cdc.gov
www.nlm.nih.gov
www.nevdgp.org
The main symptoms of jaundice are:
Jaundice is classified into three categories, depending on which part of the physiological mechanism the pathology affects. The three categories are:
Pre-hepatic jaundice: Pre hepatic jaundice is due to increased rate of haemolysis (breakdown of RBCs). Causes of haemolysis include:
Hepatocellular jaundice: Hepato cellular jaundice can be due to any infection in the liver. It can be due to infection or exposure to a harmful substance, such as alcohol, disrupts the liver’s ability to process bilirubin.
Post hepatic jaundice: Post-hepatic jaundice, is also called as obstructive jaundice, is caused by an interruption to the drainage of bile in the biliary system. The most common cause is due to gallstone in the common bile duct or due to pancreatic cancer. Some underlying conditions that may cause jaundice are:
Reference: www.nhs.uk
www.cdc.gov
Urine test: It is used to measure levels of a substance called urobilinogen. Urobilinogen is produced when bacteria break down bilirubin inside the digestive system.
Blood tests: Blood tests include blood levels of enzymes found primarily from the liver, such as the aminotransferases (ALT, AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin (which causes the jaundice), and protein levels, specifically, total protein and albumin.
Other primary lab tests for liver function include gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and prothrombin time (PT).
NHP provides indicative information for better understanding of health. For any diagnosis and treatment purpose consult physician.
References: www.nhs.uk
www.cdc.gov
There's no treatment for jaundice as such, but disease can be managed by managing symptoms and causes of jaundice.
Pre-hepatic jaundice
In treating pre-hepatic jaundice, the objective is to prevent the rapid breakdown of red blood cells that's causing the level of bilirubin to build up in the blood.
In cases of infections, such as malaria, the use of medication to treat the underlying infection is usually recommended. For genetic blood disorders, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia, blood transfusions may be required to replace the red blood cells.
Gilbert's syndrome doesn't usually require treatment because the jaundice associated with the condition isn't particularly serious and doesn't pose a serious threat to health.
NHP provides indicative information for better understanding of health. For any diagnosis and treatment purpose consult physician.
Reference: www.nhs.uk
It's not possible to prevent all cases of jaundice because it can be caused by a wide range of conditions or circumstances.
However, by taking certain precautions risk of developing jaundice can be minimised. These include:
Reference:
www.cdc.gov
www.nhs.uk
www.emedicinehealth.com