Jaundice is a medical condition, which is characterized by the yellow coloring of the skin and eyes. It generally occurs when there is an excess of bilirubin in your system. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment formed in the liver by the breakdown of red blood cells. It normally gets discharged by the liver along with other dead red blood cells. So if you are suffering from jaundice, it usually indicates that you have some serious problems regarding the functioning of your liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.

Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms commonly associated with jaundice include:
1.  Yellow-tinted eyes and skin
2.  The whites of your eyes may turn orange or brown in color
3.  Dark urine
4.  Pale stools
5.  High fatigue and vomiting (in severe cases)

Causes
Jaundice, as mentioned above, occurs when there is an excess of bilirubin and the liver is incapable of metabolizing it along with the old red blood cells. It is more common in infants than in adults, because their livers are not fully developed. However, it is also a frequent occurrence in adults and could be a potential sign of any of the following problems:
1.  Liver infection
2.  Scarring of the liver, or cirrhosis
3.  Hepatitis
4.  Alcohol abuse
5.  Liver cancer
6.  Gallstones
7.  Pancreatic cancer
8.  Blood disorders, like hemolytic anemia
9.  Parasites in the liver
10. Abnormal reactions to or overdose of medication

Diagnosis
Diagnostic tests may include:
1. Jaundice is diagnosed primarily by taking blood tests, to help measure the amount of bilirubin as well as to trace the presence of other diseases like Hepatitis.
2. Liver function tests in order to make comparisons between levels of certain proteins and enzymes when the liver is in good shape and when it is damaged.
3. Liver biopsies, where samples of liver tissue are first extracted and later examined under a microscope.
4. Imaging studies, consisting of abdominal ultrasounds, computed tomography scans and magnetic resonance images (MRI) tests.

Signs, Symptoms and Diagnosis of 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 medical condition where the bilirubin level shoots up in the blood of the affected person. Also referred to as icterus, the condition may affect adults as well as newborn babies (Neonatal Jaundice), whereby the skin and the white part of the eye (sclera) appears yellowish in color (due to the accumulation of bilirubin).

Bilirubin is the bile pigment that results from the breakdown of hemoglobin (when the RBC cells breakdown). The bilirubin thus produced is released into the plasma. The liver then filters the released bilirubin for further metabolism. In the case of a diseased condition, injury or infection to the liver, it fails to remove the bilirubin from the bloodstream. As a result, there is an abnormal rise in the bilirubin level in the blood (Hyperbilirubinemia), resulting in jaundice. In jaundice, Bilirubin can go upto much higher levels. At 2.5-3 it just starts to get manifest as yellow eyes. Obstructive jaundice may require an endoscopic procedure or surgery. 

Types of jaundice:
Jaundice may be of the following types:

Hepatocellular jaundice: In Hepatocellular jaundice, the elevated bilirubin level in the blood is an outcome of a liver disease or an injury (altering the normal functioning of the liver).
Hemolytic jaundice: Here, the increased level of bilirubin in the blood results from an increased breakdown of the RBCs (Hemolysis).
Obstructive jaundice: As the name suggests, Obstructive jaundice results from an obstruction in the bile duct. As a result, the bilirubin does not get filtered and remains in the liver.

Factors contributing to jaundice:
The increased buildup of bilirubin may be an outcome of

Obstruction and inflammation of the bile duct.
Chronic liver disease including liver cirrhosis and hepatitis.
Pancreatic Cancer.
Hemolytic anemia: It is a condition resulting from increased breakdown of RBCs.
Gilbert's syndrome.
Certain medications may also interfere and alter the normal functioning of the liver (steroids, birth control pills, and acetaminophen, to name a few).
In cholestasis, the bile (conjugated bilirubin), instead of getting eliminated, remains in the liver.
Symptoms:
The symptoms associated with jaundice include

The skin (particularly, the face, hands, nails, and feet) and the sclera appear yellowish.
The urine appears dark in color.
Fever, vomiting, tiredness, and loss of body weight.
Abdominal pain (mild to severe).
The stool appears pale in color.
Itchiness or Pruritus.
Diagnosis and treatment:
The earlier the diagnosis, more effective is the treatment.

Jaundice can be diagnosed by
Physical examination.
Bilirubin tests to determine the total bilirubin level.
CBC is used to determine the levels of RBCs, WBCs, and platelets.
Liver function tests.
The treatment for jaundice involves identifying the underlying factor responsible for the condition and treating it.

In the case of obstructive jaundice, operation helps to improve the condition.
Patients with hepatitis may benefit from antiviral medicines as well as steroids.
In hemolytic anemia, use of iron supplements helps to improve the condition.
Avoid oily and spicy foods, smoking and drinking.
Rest as much as possible.

Jaundice - The Right Way It Can Be Treated!


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.

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

Biliary stricture or a bile duct stricture is a condition where the bile duct narrows due to the presence of scar tissues in the body. There are many reasons for scar tissue formation   bile duct surgery, stone in the bile duct or exposure of the abdominal area to radiation. 

This condition can be either malignant or benign. In some cases, the presence of a tumour in the gallbladder can narrow the bile ducts. 

Signs of biliary stricture  

Bile ducts are very small. Because their diameter ranges from 4-10 millimetres, they can easily be blocked by scar tissue. The symptoms are similar to other disorders of the bile duct, where the bile duct is blocked. This stops it from releasing bile into the intestine. 

The symptoms may take a while before they become obvious. In fact, they may take several years as scar tissue takes time to develop.

The common signs are  

Stomach pain, especially on the right side

Fever

Itching

Your skin and eyes turn yellow 

The stools are light coloured

Fatigue

No appetite

Besides this, the biliary stricture can also cause organ inflammation. Liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are the most vulnerable ones in this regard. It can also lead to low blood pressure and sepsis (infection of the blood). 

The link between jaundice and biliary stricture

Because biliary stricture blocks bile ducts, the level of bile in the blood can increase. This may happen because the bile won t follow its normal route   from the liver to the intestine. Hence jaundice might occur.

To treat jaundice resulting from biliary stricture, the first line of treatment involves IV fluids, antibiotics, and antiviral medications. If that doesn t work, then surgery may be necessary to get rid of the bile duct obstructions.

Apart from this, you will also need to adopt certain self-care practices such as alcohol avoidance, proper hydration, and adhering to strict dietary guidelines.



Biliary Stricture & Jaundice - Know The Link!

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

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