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ADULT JAUNDICE : CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND MORE.

 


Overview

Jaundice is a condition in which your skin, whites of the eye(sclera) and mucous membranes turn yellow because of excessive amounts of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a waste substance produced by the body.

When the amount of bilirubin increases, the person suffers from jaundice. Bilirubin is yellow in color.

Jaundice itself is a symptom of some other underlying health issue. The excess amount of bilirubin is because of certain other health conditions. Normally the level of bilirubin is less than 1 mg/ dL, but when this level increases to 2 or 3 mg/dL, the person suffers from jaundice.

Why does jaundice happen?

Jaundice itself is not a disease but actually a symptom of some other health condition in your body. 

When red blood cells die, they produce bilirubin as a waste product and mixes with blood. This bilirubin containing blood goes to the liver for purification. The liver separates blood from bilirubin. It sends the blood for normal circulation and uses bilirubin for production of bile. Bile is used for emulsification or digestion of fats. The excess bile is excreted through faeces. The bilirubin or bile present in stools give it its yellow colour.

When this process couldn't take place because of any reason, the person suffers from jaundice. This can be due to various reasons and causes.

Causes

Jaundice can be caused due to a variety of causes. 

1.Viral infection like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Epstein-Barr virus infection can cause chronic jaundice, as they directly affect the liver.

2. Inflammation in the liver might also be a cause of jaundice. Inflammation in the liver makes it less efficient and can cause excess secretion of bilirubin in the blood.


3. Obstruction in the bile duct might also be the reason for jaundice. Bile duct is a small tube that carries bile from liver to gallbladder. If the duct is obstructed by something, the bile can leak into blood.

4. Inflammation of bile duct can also cause jaundice.

5. Excessive alcohol consumption might kill your liver cells, making your liver less functional and cause jaundice.

6. Gilbert’s syndrome is an inherited condition that impairs the enzymes responsible for excretion of bile. 

7. Other serious health conditions like pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, gallstones(stones in gallbladder) or bile duct cancer can be a cause of jaundice.

Symptoms

Symptoms of jaundice are easy to identify. Some common symptoms are as follows.

1.Yellow tinge to the skin, white of eyes and nails.
2. Pale stools
3. Dark urine
4. Itching in body
5. Fever
6. Fatigue
7. Abdominal pain
8. Weight loss
9. Nausea
10. Vomiting

Out of these the yellow of the skin and other body parts is a must have symptom. If a person has other symptoms but he's not yellowish, then it's some other health condition, not jaundice.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of jaundice is done by checking the amount of bilirubin in the blood. The doctor would prescribe you a Complete Blood Count Test or CBC to find the exact amount of bilirubin in your body. If it's higher than the normal levels, he'll conclude that you are suffering from jaundice.

Treatment

As we earlier read that jaundice is not a condition but a symptom to some other underlying condition, so the treatment is also for the condition not jaundice.


If you are diagnosed with jaundice in your CBC report, then the doctor might prescribe other tests for finding out the exact reason for your jaundice. When that reason is found, then treatment is given for that health condition.
For example if you are suffering from jaundice because of liver inflammation, the doctor will prescribe you medications for that, and jaundice will itself heal when your liver heals.

Conclusion

Jaundice is a serious health condition and can be fatal if not treated on time. One should be careful and vigilant enough to nor miss symptoms of the disease in themselves or their loved ones. If treatment is given on time, the person can become healthy once again.

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and fit and Stay tuned for more.
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