• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

HealthMD

HealthMD

You are here: Home / Information / Jaundice

Jaundice

By surekha

Jaundice is a condition that causes yellowish color of the skin and the eyes due to increased levels of bilirubin in blood. This is known as hyper-bilirubinemia. As such jaundice is not a disease but it indicates the underlying medical condition. It can develop due to several medical issues and sometimes it can be life threatening causing death. Exact cause of jaundice is to be determined to start suitable treatment.

In healthy condition, the level of bilirubin in blood would be 3-20 per liter but when jaundice develops the level would go beyond 35 -40 mo/L. Jaundice is caused by pre-hepatic, hepatitis and post hepatic conditions. Jaundice needs to be treated after knowing the underlying medical causes. Neonatal jaundice is common in newborns but it is harmless and does not cause serious effects.

Causes :

Whenever the metabolism of bilirubin in the blood is disturbed it can cause jaundice. Bilirubin is a component produced during the breaking up of red blood cells and they release hemoglobin in this process. It is the heme that gets metabolized into bilirubin which is then released into the blood. When they reach liver, the bilirubin is further broken down and sent into the intestines. A portion of birlirubin is expelled in the form of feces and other part is further metabolized to get expelled through urine.

If there is any dysfunction in the above metabolism it can cause accumulation of bilirubin leading to jaundice. Basically problem can occur in 3 different stages namely

  • Metabolism of bilirubin can get disturbed before they are sent to the liver (pre hepatic)
  • Metabolism can get dysfunctional in the liver (hepatic)
  • Metabolism of bilirubin can get affected after it is sent from the liver (post hepatic)

Pre Hepatic :

Various medical conditions can cause hemolysis (loss of red blood cells) which can lead to increase in the level of bilirubin. The liver would become incapable to metabolize such extreme high levels of bilirubin causing jaundice. Malaria, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, exposure to toxins and G6PD deficiency and certain other autoimmune disorders can affect the normal level of bilirubin in the blood.

Hepatic :

Jaundice can develop due to increase in the conjugated or un-conjugated levels of bilirubin. Hepatitis infection caused by virus, liver cirrhosis (due to over consumption of alcohol), Crigler Najjar syndrome, certain drugs and liver cancer can cause abnormality in the functions of liver leading to jaundice.

Post Hepatic Factors :

If there is disruption of normal functions of excretion of bilirubin (which is now changed into bile) from the liver, it can cause jaundice. Any medical conditions that affect the functions of bile ducts or pancreas like gallstone formation, pancreatitis, bile duct cancer, cholangitis and parasitic infection of pancreas can lead to jaundice.

Symptoms :

The major symptom of jaundice is the yellowish coloration of the skin. It can be mild to moderate and severe based on the medical issues inside. The mucus membranes turn yellow in color and for many people the white portion of the eyes will turn yellow. The symptoms are not the same for all people it varies with individual’s health condition and intensity of the problem.

Some other common signs of jaundice are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, itching or skin, change in normal color of the skin (dark), bleeding of rectum, fever, chills, loss of weight, loss of appetite, mild confusion of thoughts, swelling of abdomen and legs.

Who are at risk?

A person with hereditary disorder like thalassemia is more prone to get jaundice than others. Hereditary spherocytosis can also cause jaundice. A person who drinks alcohol heavily is at high risk of developing jaundice and cirrhosis. People who get infected with virus hepatitis of A, B, or C is prone to develop liver problems and jaundice.

Diagnosis :

It is difficult to determine the underlying medical condition that causes jaundice. Your doctor will complete the physical exam and order for series of tests like blood count, urine analysis, and liver function test and electrolytes level. In addition he may request for more tests like ultrasound scanning of the liver, pancreas and gallbladder to rule out any abnormalities. Further you may be asked to undergo CT or MRI scan based on the results. If required, he may do a liver biopsy by collecting a small tissue sample from your liver.

Treatment :

Treatment options may vary with individual and based on the underlying medical issues. Your doctor is the right person to devise suitable plan for treating jaundice. Some people are hospitalized if they have severe symptoms and most of them can be treated as outpatients. Antiviral medications are given if jaundice has developed due to hepatitis infection. The person will be asked to repeat certain tests mentioned above and the results are compared and monitored closely.

If the underlying cause is alcohol consumption, you will have to quit drinking with the help of your doctor. Alcoholic hepatitis and pancreatitis can develop due to alcohol abuse. Overdose of certain medications and toxins can cause jaundice. In such cases proper antidote is given. Corticosteroids are often prescribed for treating jaundice developed from autoimmune disorders. For patients with severe anemia, blood transfusion is to be done based on their symptoms and test results. If liver cancer or pancreatic cancer has caused jaundice, your doctor will initiate suitable treatment like surgery or chemotherapy. In serious cases, gallstone surgery and liver transplantation is done for saving the life of the patient.

Complications :

For many people, jaundice can be mild to moderate and for some it can cause potential life threatening complications like severe anemia, sepsis, internal bleeding, and abnormal levels of electrolytes, chronic hepatitis, liver/kidney failure and even death.

Prevention :

You cannot totally prevent development of jaundice but you can always reduce the risk factors. Do not take overdose of medications and consult your pharmacist or GP in case of doubt. People with G6PD problem should be very careful in using certain medications. Avoid having unprotected sex with strangers and do not share needles since you are at risk of developing autoimmune disorders.

Vaccination is available for hepatitis and you can prevent developing it. Practice good hygiene while using public toilets and eating food/water. Avoid traveling to areas prone to malarial epidemic. If you are habitual drinker, reduce the intake of alcohol immediately with the help of your doctor/counselor. Quit smoking and drinking since both can harm your lungs and liver.

Prognosis :

Jaundice can become fatal if there is delay in treatment and if the diagnosis is not made correctly. Prognosis of jaundice varies squarely with the individual’s case history. There are many patients who have recovered fully from jaundice but there are some serious cases that are fatal.

Related posts:

  1. Liver Pain Causes & Symptoms – Liver Location, Anatomy, Functions
  2. Neonatal Jaundice – Causes, Symptoms, Tests, Treatment
  3. Viral Hepatitis
  4. Jaundice in Newborns
  5. Liver Cancer – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Diagnosis
  6. Liver Pain – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention
  7. Inflamed Liver – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
  8. Signs of Liver Damage
  9. Pain In Right Side Under Ribs – Causes, Treatment
  10. Fatty Liver – Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Home Remedies

Filed Under: Information

Primary Sidebar

Learn More:

Also Read:

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Infected Belly Button Piercing – Symptoms, Causes, Signs, Home Remedies, Treatment

Meningioma

11th Week of Pregnancy – Symptoms, Ultrasound

Dubowitz Syndrome

Elephantiasis – Facts, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Pancreas Pain

Rhinitis

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Cervical Cancer – Causes, Symptoms, Signs, Treatment

Intestinal Blockage – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Lyme Disease – Pictures, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Boerhaave Syndrome – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

Varicose Veins

Search and Learn More

www.healthmd.net

  • About Us
  • Dr. Latheef Kasala, Ph.D
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
SettingsAccept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT