What Is Jaundice?
Most people have heard of the medical condition known as Jaundice, especially those who have had a baby recently. Most cases of jaundice are in newborns, though you can see jaundice in adults as well.
Causes
Jaundice occurs when a person has a yellow tint to their skin and in the whites of their eyes. While a person may not actually be yellow in color, their skin will give off a yellow glow, indicating that they have jaundice. Jaundice is a sign of an underlying disease, usually having to do with Bilirubin, which is the by-product of the breakdown of red blood cells.
Jaundice is caused by the liver being unable to fully breakdown and rid the body of Bilirubin. This is usually caused by a break down in a person’s metabolism.
People who experience a large amount of issues with their liver may develop jaundice due to the fact that their liver is unable to function properly. And if it is unable to function properly, then it will not breakdown and remove the waste in our bodies that we need to be rid of. If our liver is unable to fully remove the bilirubin from our body, then jaundice may set in if the amount of waste is too large.
There are many different causes of jaundice and many different symptoms and treatment options. Your symptoms and treatment options might be different from someone else depending on the underlying disease that is causing your jaundice. Jaundice is caused by several different disease processes. However, we are going to discuss the top 3 causes that are most common in causing jaundice.
Pre-Hepatic
This is the stage before bile is made in the liver. Once it is made in the liver it is ready to be released. This stage happens when the liver is overrun with red blood cells and it cannot turn them into waste fast enough for them to be released from the body. Therefore, the bilirubin is essentially taking over the liver and not allowing it to do its job. Some examples of diseases that cause this are: malaria, sickle cell anemia, and autoimmune diseases.
Hepatic
Once you have entered this stage, your liver is unable to metabolize or function correctly and is unable to remove the bile that has formed. This stage is commonly associated with cirrhosis of the liver and alcohol related illnesses. This means that, more than likely, too much alcohol or drugs have been consumed and your liver can no longer perform like it is supposed to.
Post-Hepatic
At this stage, your liver is usually obstructed by something, which will not allow it to remove the bile into the intestines for final removal from the body. This is most common if you are suffering from gallstones, pancreatic cancer, or even pregnancy. The hormones released in your body during pregnancy can stop up all of your systems and keep them from working properly. Because your immune system is lowered while you are pregnant, you are more prone to diseases and internal problems than you were before you became pregnant.
Symptoms
Now that we know some of the causes of jaundice, let’s take a look at the symptoms that you should keep an eye out for. If you have been or are experiencing some or all of these symptoms, you should consult with your medical doctor as soon as you can. By doing this, you will help them to be able to treat you sooner and get you on the road to recovery faster.
In addition to the yellowing skin and whites of your eyes, you may also experience light colored stools, dark colored urine, and even itching on parts of your skin. You may also experience vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite, weakness, and/or fever. Because these symptoms are often associated with common illnesses, it is important to keep track of all of your symptoms and report them to your doctor immediately.
More than likely you doctor will want to see you for an evaluation, where you can expect blood tests, a urinalysis, and possibly an ultrasound of some kind. The exact tests you need will be determined by your doctor at your appointment.
Treatments
With these causes and symptoms, you may be wondering what the treatments could possibly be. There are a few different treatment options available for you depending on how severe your jaundice is.
Phototherapy
A newborn with jaundice may only need to spend a few hours a day underneath a light for phototherapy. This will not only help them regulate their temperatures, but it can also help reduce their jaundice and help their liver get rid of the bilirubin. Let’s take a look at the other treatment options available for adults.
Home Remedies
In today’s world, there are home remedies for every disease and sickness out there and jaundice is no different. Most home remedies suggest that you increase the amount of water you are drinking on a daily basis, in an attempt to remain hydrated at all times. Also make sure to take only medications that are prescribed to you by your doctor. And avoid and medications or supplements that could potentially cause you more harm than good.
Medical Treatments
Depending on how bad your jaundice is, will depend on the level of medical treatment that you need. You could face something as simple as antibiotics and steroids, or something such as IV fluids, supportive care, and even blood transfusions.
The causes and symptoms of jaundice are reason enough for you to make sure that you are keeping in constant contact with your medical doctor. Even if you do not have jaundice, you should talk with your doctor at your yearly appointment to see if you are at an increased risk for developing jaundice. If you are able to catch it early, then you will be able to receive treatment at the first signs and could stop the jaundice from progressing any further.
