common signs and symptoms of jaundice include:
a- ascites
b- dermatitis
c- icteric sclera
d- dark-colored stools.
--------------------------
Jaundice is a term used to describe a yellowish tint in the skin and white part of the eyes. Body fluids can also be yellow.
The color of the skin and the white of the eyes will vary according to bilirubin levels (waste material found in the blood). Moderate levels lead to a yellow color, while very high levels will appear brown.
About 60 percent of all babies born in the United States have jaundice. However, it can appear in people of all ages and is usually the result of an underlying disease. Jaundice usually indicates a problem with the liver or bile duct.
Basic facts about jaundice:
- Jaundice is caused by an accumulation of bilirubin, a residual product, in the blood.
- An inflamed liver or a blocked bile duct can cause jaundice, as well as other underlying conditions.
- Symptoms include a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, dark urine and itching.
- The diagnosis of jaundice may involve a series of tests.
- Jaundice is treated by managing the underlying cause.
Causes:
Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes occur when the body does not process bilirubin properly. This may be due to a liver problem.
It is also known as icterus.
Bilirubin is a yellow waste material that remains in the bloodstream after extracting iron from the blood.
The liver filters waste out of the blood. When bilirubin reaches the liver, other chemicals adhere to it. Resulting in a substance called conjugated bilirubin.
The liver produces a digestive juice called bile. Conjugated bilirubin is introduced into the bile and then leaves the body. It is this type of bilirubin that gives stool its brown color.
If there is too much bilirubin, it can seep into surrounding tissues. This is known as hyperbilirubinemia and causes the yellow color in the skin and eyes.
Risk factor's:
Jaundice occurs more frequently as a result of an underlying disorder that causes the production of too much bilirubin or prevents the liver from getting rid of it. Both cause bilirubin to deposit in the tissues.
The underlying diseases that can cause jaundice include:
- Acute inflammation of the liver: This can affect the liver's ability to conjugate and secrete bilirubin, resulting in an obstruction.
- Inflammation of the bile duct: This can prevent the secretion of bile and the elimination of bilirubin, causing jaundice.
- Bile duct obstruction: This prevents the liver from eliminating bilirubin.
- Hemolytic anemia: Bilirubin production increases when large amounts of red blood cells break down.
- Gilbert syndrome: This is an inherited disease that affects the ability of enzymes to process bile excretion.
- Cholestasis: This interrupts the flow of bile from the liver. Bile containing conjugated bilirubin remains in the liver instead of being excreted.
The rarest conditions that can cause jaundice include:
- Crigler-Najjar syndrome:
This is a hereditary disease that affects the specific enzyme responsible for the bilirubin processing.
- Dubin-Johnson syndrome:
This is an inherited form of chronic jaundice that prevents conjugated bilirubin from secreting itself in liver cells.
- Pseudocytery:
This is a harmless form of jaundice. The yellowing of the skin is due to an excess of beta-carotene, not an excess of bilirubin. Pseudocytery usually occurs when eating large amounts of carrot, squash or melon.
Treatment:
The treatment will depend on the underlying cause.
The goal of jaundice treatment is to end the cause and not the symptoms.
The following treatments are used:
- Anemia-induced jaundice can be treated by increasing the amount of iron in the blood, either by taking iron supplements or eating more iron-rich foods. Iron supplements are available for purchase online.
- Hepatitis-induced jaundice requires antiviral medications or steroids.
- Doctors can treat obstruction-induced jaundice by surgically removing it.
- If jaundice has been caused by the use of a medication, the treatment involves switching to an alternative medication.
Prevention:
Jaundice is related to liver function. It is essential that people maintain the health of this vital organ by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and not consuming more than the recommended amounts of alcohol.
a- ascites
b- dermatitis
c- icteric sclera
d- dark-colored stools.
--------------------------
Jaundice is a term used to describe a yellowish tint in the skin and white part of the eyes. Body fluids can also be yellow.
The color of the skin and the white of the eyes will vary according to bilirubin levels (waste material found in the blood). Moderate levels lead to a yellow color, while very high levels will appear brown.
About 60 percent of all babies born in the United States have jaundice. However, it can appear in people of all ages and is usually the result of an underlying disease. Jaundice usually indicates a problem with the liver or bile duct.
Basic facts about jaundice:
- Jaundice is caused by an accumulation of bilirubin, a residual product, in the blood.
- An inflamed liver or a blocked bile duct can cause jaundice, as well as other underlying conditions.
- Symptoms include a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, dark urine and itching.
- The diagnosis of jaundice may involve a series of tests.
- Jaundice is treated by managing the underlying cause.
Causes:
Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes occur when the body does not process bilirubin properly. This may be due to a liver problem.
It is also known as icterus.
Bilirubin is a yellow waste material that remains in the bloodstream after extracting iron from the blood.
The liver filters waste out of the blood. When bilirubin reaches the liver, other chemicals adhere to it. Resulting in a substance called conjugated bilirubin.
The liver produces a digestive juice called bile. Conjugated bilirubin is introduced into the bile and then leaves the body. It is this type of bilirubin that gives stool its brown color.
If there is too much bilirubin, it can seep into surrounding tissues. This is known as hyperbilirubinemia and causes the yellow color in the skin and eyes.
Risk factor's:
Jaundice occurs more frequently as a result of an underlying disorder that causes the production of too much bilirubin or prevents the liver from getting rid of it. Both cause bilirubin to deposit in the tissues.
The underlying diseases that can cause jaundice include:
- Acute inflammation of the liver: This can affect the liver's ability to conjugate and secrete bilirubin, resulting in an obstruction.
- Inflammation of the bile duct: This can prevent the secretion of bile and the elimination of bilirubin, causing jaundice.
- Bile duct obstruction: This prevents the liver from eliminating bilirubin.
- Hemolytic anemia: Bilirubin production increases when large amounts of red blood cells break down.
- Gilbert syndrome: This is an inherited disease that affects the ability of enzymes to process bile excretion.
- Cholestasis: This interrupts the flow of bile from the liver. Bile containing conjugated bilirubin remains in the liver instead of being excreted.
The rarest conditions that can cause jaundice include:
- Crigler-Najjar syndrome:
This is a hereditary disease that affects the specific enzyme responsible for the bilirubin processing.
- Dubin-Johnson syndrome:
This is an inherited form of chronic jaundice that prevents conjugated bilirubin from secreting itself in liver cells.
- Pseudocytery:
This is a harmless form of jaundice. The yellowing of the skin is due to an excess of beta-carotene, not an excess of bilirubin. Pseudocytery usually occurs when eating large amounts of carrot, squash or melon.
Treatment:
The treatment will depend on the underlying cause.
The goal of jaundice treatment is to end the cause and not the symptoms.
The following treatments are used:
- Anemia-induced jaundice can be treated by increasing the amount of iron in the blood, either by taking iron supplements or eating more iron-rich foods. Iron supplements are available for purchase online.
- Hepatitis-induced jaundice requires antiviral medications or steroids.
- Doctors can treat obstruction-induced jaundice by surgically removing it.
- If jaundice has been caused by the use of a medication, the treatment involves switching to an alternative medication.
Prevention:
Jaundice is related to liver function. It is essential that people maintain the health of this vital organ by eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly and not consuming more than the recommended amounts of alcohol.
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