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 :