The medical term for Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, and body fluids. When you have an increase in bilirubin in the blood, jaundice is present. The breakdown of heme produces a yellowish pigment that causes jaundice. Several causes may bring on jaundice such as the increased bilirubin, increase of red blood cells, inheritance and liver disease. Bile is a thick yellowish green and brown fluid that is excreted from the liver and into the upper small intestine to rid any unwanted wastes.
People with acute hepatitis tend to have liver inflammation resulting in various types of hepatitis such as hepatitis B and C. Alcohol abuse can cause cirrhosis of the liver, which can also bring on jaundice. When bile ducts are blocked, either inside or outside of the liver, this may produce a stone that can cause damage and scarring and can affect the development of the bile ducts. Other things that can cause an increase in the red blood cells and jaundice is Hemolytic anemia, an abnormal hemoglobin variant , malaria and hemolytic disease of a newborn.
Cirrhosis of the liver can cause jaundice in the late stages which is due from alcohol abuse. In newborns, Cirrhosis is the result of the liver not fully developed and has the inability to metabolize the bilirubin. This may be one of the main causes of jaundice in newborns and why they may so often have jaundice. When newborns are born with jaundice, the hospital may keep a watch on the infant for a period of 48 t0 72 hours to see if the jaundice persists or improves. If jaundice in a newborn becomes too severe, the newborn is treated to prevent any brain damage to the newborn.
Another cause of jaundice is when the mother has Cholestasis during pregnancy. This is an uncommon condition that can occur while a mother is pregnant and happens in the third trimester of pregnancy. Cholestasis of pregnancy has the symptoms of itching but does not normally cause jaundice. When the Cholestasis becomes severe enough to where it produces gallstones, then there is an increase risk that the newborn will develop abnormalities.
There are several ways that jaundice is diagnosed and treated. A physical exam, blood tests and cat scans and utrasonagraphy are to name just a few. With a physical exam, the abdomen is examined for tumors that may cause cancer which can also cause jaundice. The liver is also looked at for cirrhosis to make sure there is no hard rock nodular that could suggest that there is liver cancer. Blood tests are preformed to determine if there are high levels of unconjugated bilirubin that could suggest destruction of red blood cells. Other tests are preformed to rule out any obstruction of the bile ducts.
Ultrasonography is used to examine the abdomen region for gallstones, tumors in the liver or pancrease and dilated bile ducts. It’s a simple exam that uses sound waves to examine the abdomen area.
