Jaundice - UK Health Insurance

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[Jaundice]

JAUNDICE

It is a common liver disorder. In jaundice a yellow discoloration in the skin, the mucous membranes, or the eyes occurs due to an increase in the bile pigment, bilirubin, in the blood.

TARGET GROUP:

Jaundice can occur in children or adults. Most infants have some jaundice during the first week of life.

 

TYPE OF DISEASE:

Usually about 1% of our red blood cells retire every day, to be replaced by fresh red blood cells. The old ones are processed in the liver and disposed of. Much of the resulting bilirubin leaves the body in the stool. Jaundice results if there are too many red blood cells retiring, by the liver being overloaded or damaged, or by the inability to move processed bilirubin from the liver to the intestines.

Jaundice can be categorized as three types.

1. Hepatocellular jaundice caused by damage to liver cells either by toxic drugs or viral infection.
2. Hemolytic jaundice caused by excessive destruction of red blood cells resulting in increased bilirubin formation and anemia.
3. Obstructive jaundice, which is caused when there is a blockage in moving the bile from the liver to the duodenum.

 

SYMPTOMS:

The chief symptom of jaundice is the yellowish staining of the skin the whites of the eyes. The other symptoms are headache, fever, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation and fatigue. There may be a dull pain in the liver area. Obstructive jaundice may be associated with intense itching. Looking yellow and having dark urine and light stools can be due to liver disease or cirrhosis. The patient may have signs of liver disease including fatigue, swelling of the ankles, muscle wasting, ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), mental confusion or coma, and bleeding into the intestines. Blockage of the flow of bile can lead to deficiencies of certain vitamins.

AFFECTED AREA:

Jaundice affects the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes. It is a symptom that often occurs with liver, gallbladder and blood disorders.

CAUSES:

The various causes of jaundice in children and adults are malaria, viral hepatitis, anemia, premature birth, cirrhosis, genetic syndromes, blood diseases, and dehydration and blocked bile ducts.

 

RISK TO OTHERS

Blood transfusions, hepatitis, use of alcohol, drugs, antibiotics, can increase the chances of jaundice, and liver and gall bladder diseases.

RISK TO SUFFERER

Complications from high bilirubin levels are deafness, cerebral palsy and brain damage.

TREATMENT:

Jaundice in neonates is very mild and usually clears away by exposure to sunlight. The child may be treated with a special ultraviolet light known as phototherapy if the jaundice is severe. Jaundice in adults requires treating its specific cause. There are many treatments that may be used for liver and gallbladder problems depending on the exact condition. They include avoiding alcohol and medicine, which cause the condition. Causes of anemia and other infectious diseases should also be treated. Treating the inflammation of the pancreas and extracting gallstones should remove bile duct obstruction.