Jaundice: cures, symptoms, prevention etc. • hello healthy

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Definition

What is jaundice (jaundice)?

Jaundice or jaundice can also be called jaundice or jaundice. Jaundice is a condition where the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow due to high levels of bilirubin.

Bilirubin is formed from the breakdown of red blood cells. The body normally excretes bilirubin through the liver. Because the liver in a newborn is immature (immature), sometimes bilirubin builds up faster than the body can excrete it, causing jaundice.

How common is jaundice (jaundice)?

Jaundice or illness is a common condition. Often times, this disease affects newborns, but it can also occur in older children.

Jaundice usually gets better on its own and goes away within a few days. In certain cases, jaundice can also be a symptom of a certain disease.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of jaundice (jaundice)?

The most typical symptom of jaundice is yellow skin and eye sclera. Other symptoms of jaundice or jaundice can include:

• The inside of the mouth is yellow
• Dark or brown, tea-like urine
• Pale, putty-like stool

Note: if the whites of your eyes are not yellow, you may not have jaundice. Your skin can turn yellow - orange if you consume excess beta carotene, the orange pigment in carrots.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

Itching can also be a sign of jaundice or jaundice

Most people who have jaundice will experience body itching in addition to other symptoms, especially in the evening and at night.

In fact, itching is the most difficult symptom of jaundice to control and can hinder daily activities. Itching that appears at night can make it difficult for you to sleep well.

The itching feeling we feel is actually triggered by stimuli called pruritogens. Examples are insect bites or chemical irritants. The brain then translates it as an itchy sensation. In response to the itching sensation, we will scratch or rub the area to remove the irritant.

Well, bilirubin (yellow pigment) is one of the pruritogenic substances. Bilirubin is formed when hemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen) is broken down as part of the normal process of recycling old or damaged red blood cells.

Bilirubin is carried in the bloodstream to the liver, where it binds with bile. Bilirubin is then transferred through the bile duct to the digestive tract, so that it can be excreted from the body. Most of the bilirubin is excreted through feces, while the rest is through urine.

If too much bilirubin builds up in the liver, bilirubin will then continue to accumulate in the blood and be deposited under the skin. The result is body itching, which is common in people with jaundice.

In addition, body itching as a symptom of jaundice may also be caused by bile salts. Bile salts are also pruritogenic substances. The difference is, complaints of itching due to bile salts appear before the skin turns yellow. Body itching due to bile salts also does not produce reddish skin that looks swollen.

Symptoms of jaundice in babies to watch out for

Keep in mind, even though your baby is yellow, it's usually babies who do jaundice physiological causes no symptoms. Here are some things to look out for if your baby is yellow.

• It remains yellow after one week and the yellow color spreads to the arms or legs.
• Looks sick and weak.
• Do not want to eat.
• Fussy and crying all the time.
• Has "small" arms and legs (floppy arms and legs).
• Fever with a temperature of 38 degrees C or more.
• Seizures.
• Has trouble breathing and looks blue.

If you find these signs in your baby who is jaundice, then you must immediately take him to the doctor to find the cause and be treated further.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Your skin appears increasingly yellow
• Your skin appears yellow on your stomach, arms, and legs
• The whites of your eyes appear yellow
• You appear sick or have difficulty awakening
• You have trouble gaining weight or have trouble eating
• You experience other symptoms, such as severe itching

In adults, yellow skin can be a symptom of a disease. If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor. Everyone's body is different. Always consult a doctor to treat your health condition.

Cause

What causes jaundice (jaundice)?

The cause of jaundice is the buildup of bilirubin compounds. Bilirubin can accumulate in the blood, because this compound is formed from the breakdown of red blood cells. Usually the body releases bilirubin through the liver.

Because a newborn's liver is immature, sometimes bilirubin builds up faster than the body's ability to excrete it, causing jaundice.

Very high levels of bilirubin can damage the baby's nervous system. This condition is also called kernicterus. Premature babies are more at risk of developing jaundice than term babies.

Other causes of jaundice are infection, blood type problems between mother and baby, and breast milk. Sometimes, breast milk interferes with the baby's liver's ability to process bilirubin. This type of jaundice or jaundice appears longer than others and can last for several weeks.

In addition, the adult liver may be damaged, so it cannot process bilirubin. Sometimes bilirubin cannot enter the digestive system so it is excreted through defecation.

But in other cases, a lot of bilirubin is trying to get into the liver at the same time. This condition can cause health problems in the body.

There are three types of jaundice, depending on the part of the body that is affected by the movement of the bilirubin. The following are the types, with their respective causes:

Causes of pre-hepatic jaundice

This disease condition occurs when an infection occurs which accelerates the breakdown of red blood cells. This damage can cause an increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood, leading to jaundice. Causes of pre-hepatic jaundice:

• Malaria - this infection spreads in the blood.
• Sickle cell anemia - an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells form abnormally. Thalassemia can also lead to the risk of jaundice.
• Crigler-Najjar syndrome - a genetic syndrome in which the body loses an enzyme that helps move bilirubin from the blood.
• Inherited spherocytosis - a genetic condition that causes red blood cells to form abnormally so that they don't survive long.

Causes of post-hepatic jaundice

This condition is usually triggered when the bile duct is damaged, inflamed, or obstructed. The result is that the gallbladder is unable to move bile into the digestive system. The following can cause this condition:

• Gallstones - block the pancreatic cancer bile duct system
• Pancreatitis or gallbladder cancer - inflammation of the pancreas, which can lead to acute pancreatitis (lasting for several days) or chronic pancreatitis (lasting for several years)

Causes of intra-hepatic jaundice

This jaundice condition occurs when there is a problem in the liver - for example, damage from infection or alcohol. This interferes with the liver's ability to process bilirubin. The following are possible causes of this disease:

• Hepatitis A, B, C viruses
• Liver disease (liver damage) caused by drinking too much alcohol
• Leptospirosis - an infection transmitted through animals such as rats
• Glandular fever - infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus; The virus is found in the saliva of infected people and is spread through kissing, coughing, and sharing unwashed food utensils
• Drug abuse - taking paracetamol or excessive ecstasy
• Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) - a rare condition that can cause further liver damage
• Gilbert's Syndrome - a common genetic syndrome in which the liver has problems breaking down normal levels of bilirubin
• Heart cancer
• Excessive use of substances that are known to cause liver damage, such as phenol (used in plastic manufacturing), carbon tetrachloride (previously used as in the cooling process)
• Autoimmune hepatitis - a rare condition in which the immune system starts attacking the liver

Risk factors

What increases my risk for jaundice (jaundice)?

Some of the factors that can increase your risk of developing jaundice are:

Born prematurely

Babies born before 38 weeks may not be able to process bilirubin as quickly as term babies. In addition, the baby will eat less and bowel movements less frequently, so that less bilirubin is excreted through the feces.

Bruises at birth

If your baby is bruised as a result of the birth process, your baby is at risk for high bilirubin levels due to the breakdown of more red blood cells.

Blood group

If the mother's blood type is different from that of the baby, the baby can receive antibodies through the placenta which cause their blood cells to break down more quickly.

Breastfeeding

Babies who receive breast milk, especially those who have difficulty caring for or have difficulty getting adequate nutrition from breast milk, are more at risk of developing jaundice. Dehydration or low calorie consumption can play a role in jaundice.

Even so, because of the benefits obtained from breast milk, experts still recommend it. If you suspect your little one has jaundice, tell your doctor right away.

Medicines & Medicines

What are my treatment options for jaundice (jaundice)?

For adults, therapy is aimed at the root cause of the jaundice.

For babies, most cases do not require therapy. However, when therapy is needed, the best therapy is phototherapy. Babies are laid naked under fluorescent lights.

Babies wear eye protection during therapy. The lamp helps break down excess bilirubin so that the bilirubin can be removed easily.

An "ultraviolet blanket" can also be used. Blood bilirubin levels are checked regularly. Phototherapy usually lowers bilirubin levels within 2 days.

Sometimes, the bilirubin levels increase after phototherapy, but only temporarily. The yellow color can last several days or even 1 or 2 weeks, even though the bilirubin levels are already low.

In rare cases with very high bilirubin levels that cannot be reduced by phototherapy, exchange transfusions may be performed. This therapy removes blood with high bilirubin levels and replaces it with different blood.

What are the usual tests for jaundice (jaundice)?

The doctor will perform a simple blood test to check the bilirubin level. The doctor will also give a bilirubin test to find out how much is in the blood. If you have jaundice, it is likely that your bilirubin levels will be high.

Some of the tests that may be done are liver function tests, complete blood count (CBC) - is done to find out if you have evidence of hemolytic anemia and a liver biopsy.

For adults, tests are carried out to check for other diseases. Some of the tests that doctors may perform to diagnose jaundice are:

• Hepatitis virus panel to look for liver infections
• Liver function tests to determine the work of the liver
• Complete blood count to check for low strains or anemia
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Abdominal CT scan
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERC)
• Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)
• Cholesterol levels
• Protombin time

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat jaundice (jaundice)?

Some of the lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help with jaundice or jaundice include:

• Feed your baby as often as possible. This can help your baby pass more stool, which can reduce the amount of bilirubin that the intestines absorb.
• Go to the doctor if your baby seems to have returned jaundice, as this could mean there is another problem. Once the jaundice in newborns is cured, the jaundice should not come back.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.