Jaundice
Jaundice
is a symptom of many medical problems but it is most often associated with
conditions of the liver or the gallbladder.
Jaundice
causes yellow skin and eyes because of an excess amount of the bile pigment
bilirubin in the fat layer under the skin. Either the body is producing too
much, or it's not getting rid of it fast enough.
Jaundice
is caused by the fact that fetuses have a different kind of red blood cell than
adults. They are just getting rid of these cells around the time of birth,
which releases a lot of bilirubin. Newborns also temporarily lack sufficient
amounts of the enzymes that break down bilirubin. With time, the liver cells
mature and are able to rid the body of excess bilirubin, and the jaundice will
disappear.
Normally,
large amounts of blood flow each minute through the liver, which may be thought
of as the body's chemical processing plant. The liver breaks down old,
inefficient red blood cells in a process called hemolysis. This releases large
amounts of bilirubin. The liver also manufactures the other components of bile.
Bile
is a greenish-yellow fluid secreted by the liver that contains cholesterol,
bile salts, and waste products such as bilirubin. The bilirubin leaves the
liver via the bile ducts to be stored in the gallbladder directly underneath.
It's then slowly released into the intestine from the gallbladder. It helps
digest food in the intestine and exits the body in the stool.
Causes of Jaundice
Ø Too much bilirubin can be toxic and can cause jaundice.
Therefore, it's important to eliminate it from the body as fast as it's
produced. There are three basic ways this process can go wrong:
Ø The liver itself can be temporarily or permanently damaged,
reducing its ability to break down bilirubin (mix it with bile) and move it
into the gallbladder.
Ø The gallbladder or its bile ducts can become blocked, preventing
excretion of bilirubin into the intestine. Bilirubin will then back up into the
liver and then into the bloodstream.
Ø Any condition that leads to very rapid destruction of red blood
cells can create too much bilirubin for even a healthy liver to handle. Again,
the excess is carried into the bloodstream.
Causes of jaundice due to poor liver
function:
Ø Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E can all cause
temporary liver inflammation. Types B and C can also cause chronic, lifelong
inflammation.
Ø Medication-induced hepatitis: This may be caused by alcohol,
erythromycin*, methotrexate, amiodarone, statins (e.g., lovastatin,
pravastatin, rosuvastatin), nitrofurantoin, testosterone, oral contraceptives,
acetaminophen, and many other medications.
Ø Autoimmune hepatitis: In this condition, the body's immune
system attacks its own liver cells. Autoimmune hepatitis is more common in
people and families with other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, thyroid
disease, diabetes, or ulcerative colitis. Primary biliary cirrhosis is another
autoimmune condition of the liver and involves inflammation of the bile ducts.
Ø Alcoholic liver disease: This involves damage to the liver
caused by excessive, long-term consumption of alcohol.
Ø Gilbert's syndrome: This harmless inherited condition is quite
common, affecting about 2% of the population. Minor defects in the liver's
metabolism of bilirubin cause jaundice to appear in times of stress, exercise,
hunger, or infection.
Causes of jaundice due to obstruction - blockage:
Ø Gallstones: Formed in the gallbladder, gallstones can block the
bile ducts, preventing bile (and bilirubin) from reaching the intestine.
Sometimes, the bile ducts may become infected and inflamed.
Ø Cholestasis of pregnancy: Abdominal pressure closes ducts
between the liver and gallbladder, or between the gallbladder and intestine.
Jaundice is common during pregnancy.
Ø Tumors: These may be in the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.
They are occasionally responsible for obstruction.
Causes due to excessive red blood cell
destruction (hemolysis):
Ø Malaria: The liver destroys red blood cells infected with the
parasite.
Ø Hemolytic anemia: This includes conditions such as sickle cell
disease and thalassemia. It may also be an autoimmune condition.
Ø Newborn jaundice: This condition is found in many newborn
babies.
Symptoms and Complications of Jaundice
¬ When you are jaundiced, your skin and the whites of your eyes
are yellow. Sometimes, people who eat a lot of carrots or beta-carotene tablets
take on a yellowish color. This is called Carotenemia, and can be easily
distinguished from jaundice because the whites of the eyes don't turn yellow.
¬ Other symptoms depend on the cause of jaundice. If a fever or
flu-like illness comes before jaundice, it's usually a sign of a viral
hepatitis infection.
¬ Brown urine, common in hepatitis, is generally a sign of poor
liver function or increased red blood cell destruction. The body is trying to
get rid of excess bilirubin in the urine.
¬ Pale, white, or clay-colored stool, on the other hand, is an
indicator of obstruction in the gallbladder or bile ducts.
¬ Many people with obstruction due to gallstones experience
abdominal pain, while those with obstruction due to tumors usually have
painless jaundice.
¬ Jaundice itself is unlikely to hurt you unless the bilirubin
reaches very high concentrations. It is a sign, however, of an underlying
problem. There are too many possible causes of jaundice to attempt diagnosis at
home. You should see a doctor if you think you have jaundice.
Investigations for Jaundice
ü LFT
ü USG: Abdomen
Treatment
The
approach is to treat the underlying cause, if possible. Some of the medical
problems that cause jaundice are curable,
Homeopathy Treatment for Jaundice
Symptomatic
Homeopathy works well for Jaundice, So its good to consult a experienced
Homeopathy physician without any hesitation.
Whom to contact for Jaundice Treatment
Dr.Senthil Kumar Treats many cases of Jaundice, In his
medical professional experience with successful results. Many patients get
relief after taking treatment from Dr.Senthil Kumar. Dr.Senthil Kumar
visits Chennai at Vivekanantha Homeopathy Clinic, Velachery, Chennai 42. To get
appointment please call 9786901830, +91 94430 54168 or mail to consult.ur.dr@gmail.com,
For more details & Consultation Feel free to contact
us.
Vivekanantha
Clinic Consultation Champers at
Chennai:- 9786901830
Panruti:- 9443054168
Pondicherry:- 9865212055 (Camp)
For appointment please Call us or Mail
Us
For appointment: SMS your Name -Age – Mobile Number -
Problem in Single word - date and day - Place of appointment (Eg: Rajini – 30 -
99xxxxxxx0 – Jaundice – 21st Oct, Sunday - Chennai ), You will receive
Appointment details through SMS
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