Jaundice: Cause,Symptoms,Management & Treatment- Digitaldairies360

What is Jaundice ?

Jaundice is a clinical condition characterized by yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes along with serum bilirubin level in excess of 2mg/dL.

Fig: Jaundice

• Normal serum bilirubin level is between 0.2-0.8 mg/dL.

• when serum bilirubin level is between 0.8-2.0 mg/dL,the condition is known as Latent jaundice.

• Jaundice can be classified into 3 main types.

TYPES OF JAUNDICE ?

1) Hemolytic jaundice

2) Obstructive jaundice

3) Hepatic jaundice
         

Fig: Type of Jaundice

•Hemolytic jaundice: Hemolytic jaundice is caused due to excessive hemolysis,e.g mismatched transfusion,Hereditary spherocytosis ,Malaria etc.
As bilirubin-albumin complex has a large size,it can't be filtered into the urine.

•OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE: occur due to obstruction of the common hepatic duct or common bile duct,e.g by a Stone inside the bile duct.Growth compressing the duct from outside.

•HEPATIC JAUNDICE: The function of hepatocyte is uptake, conjugation and excretion of bilirubin.
When there is defect in uptake or in conjugation,the bilirubin remaining in an unconjugated state, The jaundice that developed is of unconjugated type.

CAUSE OF JAUNDICE ?
 Conditions  that can cause jaundice include:

• Infections of the liver from a virus (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E) or a parasites.
• Drugs uses (such as an overdose of acetaminophen) or exposure to poisons.
• Birth defects or disorders present since birth that makes it hard for the body to breakdown bilirubin (Gilbert syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome,Crigler-Najjar syndrome)
• Chronic liver disease.
• Gallstones or gallbladder disorders causing blockage of the bile duct.
• Blood (RBC) disorders.
• CA of pancreas.
• Bile buildup in the gallbladder because of pressure in the belly area during pregnancy (jaundice of pregnancy).

SYMPTOMS:

Common symptoms of jaundice:

• A yellow tinge to the skin and the whites of the eyes, starting at the head and spreading down the body.
• Pale stools.
• Dark urine.
• Itchiness.

Symptoms of jaundice resulting from low bilirubin levels include:

• Fatigue
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Pale stools
• Dark urine

RISK FACTORS:

• Gilbert's syndrome: This is an inherited condition that impairs the ability of enzymes to process the excretion of bile.

• Acute inflammation of the liver: This may impair the ability of the liver to conjugate and secrete bilirubin, resulting in a buildup.
• Crigler-Najjar syndrome: This is an inherited condition that impairs the specific enzyme responsible for processing bilirubin.
• Dubin-Johnson Syndrome: This is an inherited form of chronic jaundice that prevents conjugated bilirubin from being secreted from of the cells of the liver.
• Inflammation of the bile duct: This can prevent the secretion of bile and removal of bilirubin, causing jaundice.
• Obstruction of the bile duct: This prevents the liver from disposing of bilirubin.
• Hemolytic anemia: The production of bilirubin increases when large quantities of red blood cells are broken down.Gilbert's syndrome: This is an inherited condition that impairs the ability of enzymes to process the excretion of bile.

TREATMENT:

The following treatments are used-

• Anemia-induced jaundice may be treated by boosting the amount of iron in the blood by either taking iron supplements or eating more iron-rich foods. Iron supplements are available for purchase online.

• Hepatitis-induced jaundice requires antiviral or steroid medications.
• Doctors can treat obstruction-induced jaundice by surgically removing the obstruction.

• If the jaundice has been caused by use of a medication, treatment for involves changing to an alternative medication.