Jaundice is a disease which causes the skin and the sclerae of the eye to turn yellow. It is caused by hyperbilirubinemia or excess secretion of bilirubin into the blood. The body fluids may also turn yellow. The shade of the skin depends on the bilirubin level. A mild increase in the bilirubin turns the skin pale yellow, and high level makes the skin turn brown.

There are three primary types of jaundice:

    Hepatocellular jaundice: This type of jaundice occurs due to liver disorders.
    Hemolytic jaundice: This type of jaundice occurs due to the breakdown of erythrocytes or red blood cells, and then excess bilirubin is produced.
    Obstructive jaundice: This type of jaundice develops due to an obstruction in your bile duct, restricting the bilirubin to exit the liver.

The common causes of jaundice are as follows:

    Inflammation of the liver disables the secretion and production of bilirubin and results in a buildup of bilirubin.
    Inflammation of the bile duct disables the secretion of bile juice, which results in bilirubin removal and leads to jaundice.
    In case the bile duct gets obstructed, the liver cannot dispose the bilirubin and leads to hyperbilirubinemia.
    Hemolytic anaemia may result in jaundice. When a large number of red blood cells break down, bilirubin production gets enhanced.
    An inherited condition known as Gilbert s syndrome may also lead to jaundice. The enzyme s ability to process bile excretion is also impaired.
    Another medical condition called Cholestasis disrupts the flow of bile from the liver. The conjugated bilirubin containing bile remains in the liver and leads to jaundice.
    Jaundice is also caused from alcoholic liver disease, caused due to excess alcohol consumption.

Treatment of jaundice
Jaundice itself cannot be cured and hence, the underlying cause of the jaundice is treated. Different types of jaundice are cured using different methods:

    Jaundice induced by anaemia can be cured by increasing the iron amount in your blood. This is done by intake of iron supplements or having iron rich food.
    Jaundice caused from hepatitis is treated by injections of anti-viral and steroid medicines.
    Obstruction induced jaundice has to be treated by surgical means. The obstruction is removed by surgery.
    Jaundice inflicted from medication is usually treated by choosing alternative medicines and abstaining from the medicines which caused the jaundice.
    Jaundice can be kept away if you take proper care of your liver. For this, you should eat a balanced diet, work out regularly and prohibit yourself from consuming excess of alcohol.

Jaundice is the most common type of liver disorder and occurs in people of all ages and also in newborn babies. Keep away from contaminated food and water, if you want to avoid jaundice.

Jaundice - 7 Factors That Can Cause It

Jaundice is a disorder marked by yellowness of the skin as well as the eyes. An increased amount of bilirubin in the body triggers this condition. Bilirubin is the product that is left after the break down of red blood cells. The liver excretes bilirubin. But if too much bilirubin is produced because of an underlying illness, or the liver function has been impaired, it will lead to jaundice.

Which Illnesses does Jaundice indicate?
In adults, jaundice could be the symptom of any of the following illnesses or conditions-

  Reaction to a medicine
  Liver cancer
  Infection of the liver
  Liver parasites
  Cirrhosis of the liver
  Gallstones
  Hepatitis
  Haemolytic anaemia
Jaundice may strike both adults as well as children. It is very common among babies who have been born preterm because their livers have not developed completely.

Jaundice in Siddha -
Siddha is a very old branch of medicinal science that cropped up in the southern part of India. According to Siddha, the human body mirrors the world around it. And our bodies too are made of the five elements- earth, fire, air, water and ether and three humours- Vata, pitta and Kapha. Usually, if there are too much of one of the elements in the body it may trigger an imbalance in the humor and this is at the root of all illnesses. So the aim of Siddha is to discover which humour is present in excess and then restore to balance.

Jaundice is mentioned in the ancient texts of Siddha medicine. It is called  manjal kamalai .  Manjal  means yellow and  Kamalai  means losing interest. It refers to a common side effect of jaundice. The person afflicted by it often loses interest in food and his/her everyday duties and activities.

Jaundice, in the Siddha texts, is the result of the distortion of pitta humour and it turns the skin, eyes and tongue yellow. When a person consumes too much spicy and hot food or if the person is too active, pitta levels will rise. This leads to  pitta neer  to mingle with blood, which will stagnate in different parts of the body.

According to Siddha, the symptoms of jaundice are -

  Constant fatigue
  Different parts of the body may turn yellow
  Constipation
  Sleepiness
  Headache
  Fever and shivers
The medicines of Siddha are all derived from herbs. Jaundice medicine is taken in the form of powder or a paste that is applied to the forehead or mixed with milk and consumed.

A person is advised against staying out in the sun for too long. As for diet, meat, poultry, salt and tamarind are prohibited. Rice has to be cooked twice before consuming. Fast food should strictly be avoided. Vegetables should be fried in ghee. Some foods that Siddha recommends are -

  Whole wheat flour
  Bananas
  Mangoes
  Almonds
  Berriesgrapes
  Potatoes
  Spinach
  Tomatoes

Siddha is a safe and secure way to treat jaundice because unlike allopathy, it does not leave a lasting and detrimental effect on the human body.

Can Siddha Help Cure Jaundice?

Infants often suffer from certain diseases which need proper care and timely treatment for quick recovery. At times, it can be difficult to communicate with an infant and understand his/her needs and problems but with a close observation you will surely be able to detect any alteration in the baby's behavior and sense it when he/she is ill. Here are some of the most common diseases infants are susceptible to and what you can do about them.

1. Abdominal distension
It is normal for a baby's belly to stick out after he/she has been fed, but if between feedings there is swelling in the abdomen or it feels hard, it can be an indication of a problem. If this symptom is accompanied by vomiting and absence of bowel movements for more than two days, your baby may be suffering from abdominal distention. This condition may have been caused by swallowing of extra air by the baby while crying or feeding. In such a situation, a pediatrician should be consulted for proper diagnosis and treatment.

2. Jaundice
It is common among newborns to develop mild forms of jaundice as the undeveloped liver is often not able to eliminate the chemical bilirubin from the blood. Mostly, this situation proves to be harmless till the level of bilirubin reaches a certain limit. After that, the disease must be properly treated to avoid damage to the baby's brain or nervous system.

3. Rsv infection
Rsv or respiratory syncytial virus is responsible for causing respiratory problems among infants. Rsv infection usually affects the bronchial passage and shows symptoms like cough, runny nose and mild fever which may even lead to bronchitis. Moreover, this infection may also develop into viral pneumonia, which makes it more important to consult a pediatrician if your baby shows any of the above symptoms.

4. Diarrhea
Infants are susceptible to watery bowel movements due to the action of virus, allergens, specific medications or bacteria. If you observe that your baby is passing stools more often than usual and it is watery, then it may be a case of diarrhea. Sometimes, these symptoms are accompanied by high fever, abdominal pain, lethargy, vomiting, dry eyes and mouth etc. In this situation you should consult your pediatrician and focus on replacing the fluids your baby has lost, to prevent dehydration.

4 Common Diseases that Babies are Susceptible To

Jaundice is a disease that is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the human body. It is a serious condition of the liver that needs to be treated on time because it leads to weakness, weight loss, fever, loss of appetite and other disturbing symptoms. It severely affects the functioning of the liver and since the liver is one of the most important organs of the body, its dysfunction can cause a lot of trouble to the patient. So, most of them prefer Ayurvedic treatment to get jaundice cured as allopathic medicines are harsh and not every patient can handle them with weak immunity.



Ayurveda treatment principle in jaundice
In Ayurveda, jaundice is known as  Kamala  and it is believed to be caused by pitta aggravation. When the liver starts producing bile in excess, the liver becomes dysfunctional and it causes jaundice. Therefore, Ayurveda tries to correct this aggravation. It focuses on curing the pitta imbalance and therefore, all of the Ayurvedic medicines that are used to treat jaundice have diuretic, detoxification, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These medicines work by flushing out the toxins, in this case, excessive pitta from the liver, while also relaxing the liver muscles.

Ayurvedic medicine effects
Medicines have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and it restores the normal functions of the liver. So, Ayurveda aims to correct the root cause of the disease and does not suppress the symptoms of the disease. It cures the disease completely without being harsh on the liver. Also, the diet guidelines prescribed in Ayurvedic treatment increase the efficiency of the medicines, thereby, helping in quicker recovery.

Liver cleansing in jaundice
In the Ayurvedic treatment of jaundice, correction of pitta dosha is the prime goal. Even the therapies help in detoxifying the body so that the liver does not have to work hard to remove the toxins. The idea is to restore the liver to its previous state so that it can perform the normal functions without any trouble. So, all the Ayurvedic remedies work at strengthening the liver and it can be done only when the liver does not have excess pitta in the form of toxins.

Also, excess water and fluid intake are especially emphasized during Ayurvedic treatment and the motive behind this instruction is also the same   to expel the toxins. The liver is badly affected by jaundice. The excessive bile secretion makes it work extra hard to filter the toxins, which puts additional strain on the liver and as a result, it gets inflamed.

Ayurveda is a holistic and permanent curing system that works to provide lasting relief to the patient. It does not harm the body either and the remedies are always in sync with the medical state of the patient. Ayurveda diagnoses the patient before prescribing the medicines as every patient differs from another.

In case you have a concern or query, you can always consult an ayurvedic doctor for a proper line of treatment.

Treatment Of Jaundice - The Ayurvedic Approach!

The medical name for the yellow tint on your skin and around the white portion of the eye is jaundice. However, jaundice is a symptom of a variety of underlying medical conditions, and not a specific disease. When the body break downs deceased red blood cells, a yellow pigment known as bilirubin is formed. Jaundice develops when your system contains excess bilirubin. Usually, the bilirubin, as well as the dead blood cells, are exterminated by your body.
Jaundice may symbolise a critical problem with your pancreas, blood cells, gallbladder or liver.
Causes:
Jaundice isn t a disease; it is a symptom. Thus if you have jaundice, it might indicate you may have any of the following complications:
Alcohol abuse.
Liver infection.
Liver cancer.
Cirrhosis (Liver scarring mostly due to alcohol).
Gallstones.
Hepatitis (Swollen liver that decreases its functionality).
Pancreatic cancer.
Blood disorders.
An overdose or adverse reaction to certain medications.
Symptoms:
The major indication of jaundice is yellow tinted skin and eyes. In serious cases, the sclera (white parts) of the eye can turn orange or brown. You might additionally exhibit other symptoms such as pale stools and dark urine.
If a concealed condition such as viral hepatitis is causing jaundice, you will probably experience symptoms such as vomiting and excessive fatigue.
Misdiagnosis is common when it comes to jaundice. Sometimes, an abundance of beta carotene (a type of anti-oxidant found abundantly in fruits and plants) can turn your skin yellow.
Treatments:
Since jaundice is a symptom of some other underlying disease, the treatment will focus on that disease. When your treatment starts, the yellow tint will disappear on its own.
If the jaundice is serious, blood transfusions might be needed to expel the excess bilirubin and rejuvenate the body s red blood cells. However, if the body s bile duct mechanism gets blocked, a surgery might be required to unblock the same.

Jaundice: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments


How To Prevent Jaundice

During monsoons, many people fall prey to Jaundice. Not to be taken lightly, jaundice can prove fatal if strict care is not taken. However there are ways to ensure that we don't fall sick with jaundice. The four main ways in which it spreads are.

1. Enlargement of liver
2. Loss of blood
3. Infection
4. A previous ailment which has left bacteria in the body

SYMPTOMS: Once can have jaundice any time of the year however one needs to be extremely careful during the months of monsoon. The symptoms of jaundice are.
1. Nails and eyes become yellow
2. Skin and urine change colour to yellow
3. Loss of appetite and irritability
4. Loss of taste
5. Nausea and vomiting
6. Tiredness and weakness
7. High temperature with shivering
8. Taste/tongue becomes bitter
9. Vision also becomes yellow
10. Stool changes colour to yellow or black
11. Heavy pulse and headache

DO’s & DON’Ts
Once diagnosed, patients have to be on strict bed rest with regulated medication on diets. They are advised to drink a lot of sugarcane juice, radish juice, glucose water, take ample rest and not do anything strenuous.

Fried and oily foods are strictly prohibited. Ghee, oil, butter or cream should not be consumed. Alongside, vegetables like okra arbi, brinjal and cauliflower should not be consumed. Alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee and hot & spicy foods are not allowed.

What jaundice patients should eat are light and healthy foods that are easy to digest. Sugarcane juice, tomato juice, lime water, carrot juice, orange juice, and sweet lime juice should be given to the patient. The patient is allowed to drink only boiled water as resistance to infection is very low at this point of time.
 
Moong and masur dals should be included in the diet, along with lots of buttermilk, without any spices in it. It is very important to follow the diet plan as given by the doctor.

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'Consult'.

From Lybrate: If you found this tip useful, please thank the doctor by clicking on the heart icon below. Also, spread good health by sharing this tip with your loved ones over WhatsApp, Facebook and other media.

Monsoon Time Prevention For Jaundice: DO's & DONT's

Don't wait any longer, manage your Jaundice online with a Lybrate doctor today

Consult for Jaundice - Online and Easy!

FilterClear All

COMMON SPECIALITIES

COMMON ISSUES