JAUNDICE- CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENTS:
What is jaundice?
jaundice: jaundice is a yellow discolouration of the skin, eyes and other body tissues.
It caused by the presence of an excessive accumulation of billirubin in the plasma and tissue fluids.
In adults, normal serum billirubin is 0.2-0.8mg/dL (average 0.5mg/dL).
Clinically jaundice occurs when serum billirubin exceeds 2 mg/dL.
IMPORTANT NOTE 📝
The first site where Jaundice is clinically detected is the sclera because ;
(i) The sclera is white, a yellow discolouration is more obvious than a similar discolouration of brownish skin.
(i) Sclera has a protein 'elastin' which has an extremely high affinity for billirubin.
CAUSES:
Jaundice are often caused by a drag in any of the three phases in bilirubin production.
Before the assembly of bilirubin, you'll have what's called unconjugated jaundice thanks to increased levels of bilirubin caused by:
⚫Reabsorption of an outsized hematoma (a collection of clotted or partially clotted blood under the skin).
⚫Hemolytic anemias (blood cells are destroyed and faraway from the bloodstream before their normal lifespan is over).
During production of bilirubin, jaundice are often caused by:
⚫Viruses, including hepatitis A , chronic hepatitis B and C, and Epstein-Barr virus infection (infectious mononucleosis).
⚫Alcohol.
⚫Autoimmune disorders.
⚫Rare genetic metabolic defects.
⚫Medicines, including acetaminophen toxicity, penicillins, oral contraceptives, chlorpromazine and estrogenic or anabolic steroids.
After bilirubin is produced, jaundice could also be caused by obstruction (blockage) of the bile ducts from:
⚫Gallstones.
⚫Inflammation (swelling) of the gallbladder.
⚫Gallbladder cancer.
⚫Pancreatic tumor.
SYMPTOMS:
Sometimes, the person might not have symptoms of jaundice, and therefore the condition could also be found accidentally. The severity of symptoms depends on the underlying causes and the way quickly or slowly the disease develops.
If you've got a short-term case of jaundice (usually caused by infection), you'll have the subsequent symptoms and signs:
⚫Fever.
⚫Chills.
⚫Abdominal pain.
⚫Flu-like symptoms.
⚫Change in complexion .
⚫Dark-colored urine and/or clay-colored stool.
⚫If jaundice isn't caused by an infection, you'll have symptoms like weight loss or itchy skin (pruritus).
⚫If the jaundice is caused by pancreatic or biliary tract cancers, the foremost common symptom is abdominal pain.
⚫ Sometimes, you'll have jaundice occurring with disease if you have:
⚫Chronic hepatitis or inflammation of the liver.
⚫Pyoderma gangrenosum (a sort of skin disease).
⚫Acute hepatitis A , B or C.
⚫Polyarthralgias (inflammation of the joints).
DIAGNOSED:
Doctors diagnose jaundice by checking for signs of disease such as:
⚫Bruising of the skin.
⚫Spider angiomas (abnormal collection of blood vessels near the surface of the skin).
⚫Palmar erythema (red coloration of the palms and fingertips).
Urinalysis (urine testing) that's positive for bilirubin shows that the patient has conjugated jaundice. The findings of urinalysis should be confirmed by serum testing. The serum testing will include an complete blood count (CBC) and bilirubin levels.
Your doctor also will do an exam to work out the dimensions and tenderness of your liver. He or she may use imaging (ultrasonography and computer tomographic (CT) scanning) and liver biopsy (taking a sample of the liver) to further confirm diagnosis.
TREATMENTS:
In adults, jaundice itself usually isn't treated. But your doctor will treat the condition that's causing it. If you've got acute hepatitis , jaundice will get away on its own because the liver begins to heal. If a blocked common bile duct is responsible , your doctor may suggest surgery to open it.
SIDE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT :
⚫Bloating.
⚫Gas.
⚫Constipation.
⚫Stomach pain.
⚫Upset stomach.
⚫ diarrhea.
⚫vomiting.