Jaundice/Hepatitis C cause , symptoms, prevention

Definition of Jaundice?

Jaundice is the medical term used for the yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes. Although it is not a disease in itself, it may be an indication of an underlying medical condition.

Your skin tends to turn yellow when the level of bilirubin in your blood exceeds 2.5-3 mg/dL. In adults, jaundice can be a result of a life-threatening condition that may need to be evaluated, whereas, in infants, it is often a benign condition that improves without much side effects. However, in some cases, jaundice can cause brain damage and even death in infants.

 REASON/ BEHIND JAUNDICE 

Normally, large amounts of blood flow each minute through the liver, which may be thought of as the body's chemical processing plant. The liver breaks down old, inefficient red blood cells in a process called hemolysis. This releases large amounts of bilirubin. The liver also manufactures the other components of bile.

Bile is a greenish-yellow fluid secreted by the liver that contains cholesterol, bile salts, and waste products such as bilirubin. The bilirubin leaves the liver via the bile ducts to be stored in the gallbladder directly underneath. It's then slowly released into the intestine from the gallbladder. It helps digest food in the intestine and exits the body in the stool.

Too much bilirubin can be toxic and can cause jaundice. Therefore, it's important to eliminate it from the body as fast as it's produced. There are three basic ways this process can go wrong:

• The liver itself can be temporarily or permanently damaged, reducing its ability to break down bilirubin (mix it with bile) and move it into the gallbladder.
• The gallbladder or its bile ducts can become blocked, preventing excretion of bilirubin into the intestine. Bilirubin will then back up into the liver and then into the bloodstream.
• Any condition that leads to very rapid destruction of red blood cells can create too much bilirubin for even a healthy liver to handle. Again, the excess is carried into the bloodstream.

Some causes of jaundice due to poor liver function include:

• viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E can all cause temporary liver inflammation. Types B and C can also cause chronic, lifelong inflammation.
• medication-induced hepatitis: This may be caused by alcohol, erythromycin*, methotrexate, amiodarone, statins (e.g., lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin), nitrofurantoin, testosterone, oral contraceptives, acetaminophen, and many other medications.
• autoimmune hepatitis: In this condition, the body's immune system attacks its own liver cells. Autoimmune hepatitis is more common in people and families with other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, thyroid disease, diabetes, or ulcerative colitis. Primary biliary cirrhosis is another autoimmune condition of the liver and involves inflammation of the bile ducts.
• alcoholic liver disease: This involves damage to the liver caused by excessive, long-term consumption of alcohol.
• Gilbert's syndrome: This harmless inherited condition is quite common, affecting about 2% of the population. Minor defects in the liver's metabolism of bilirubin cause jaundice to appear in times of stress, exercise, hunger, or infection.

Some causes of jaundice due to obstruction (blockage) include:

• gallstones: Formed in the gallbladder, gallstones can block the bile ducts, preventing bile (and bilirubin) from reaching the intestine. Sometimes, the bile ducts may become infected and inflamed.
• cholestasis of pregnancy:  This problem can be caused by genetic or hormonal factors. It usually causes severe itching and rarely, jaundice.
• tumours: These may be in the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder. They are occasionally responsible for obstruction.

Some causes due to excessive red blood cell destruction (hemolysis):

• malaria: The liver destroys red blood cells infected with the parasite.
• Hemolytic anemia: This includes conditions such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. It may also be an autoimmune condition.
• newborn jaundice: This condition is found in many newborn babies.
• The following are some of the signs and symptoms that surface with jaundice in adults and infants.

• What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Jaundice?

  In adults, the common symptoms of jaundice include:
  • Pale stool
  • Dark urine
  • Itchy skin
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Bleeding (in the rectum)
  • Diarrhea
  • Chills
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weakness
  • Weight loss
  • Abdominal pains and headaches
  • Swelling (legs and abdomen)
  The signs of jaundice in infants include:
  • Drowsiness
  • Poor feeding
  • Pale stools
  • Dark urine
  • Yellow abdomen and limbs
  • Weakness
  • Inability to put on weight
  • Irritability

  • Types Of Jaundice

    • Pre-Hepatic Jaundice: This type of jaundice results from an excessive breakdown of red blood cells, which overwhelms the liver’s ability to metabolize bilirubin.
    • Hepatocellular Jaundice: When your liver loses its ability to metabolize bilirubin, it results in hepatocellular jaundice. This type is often a result of liver dysfunction.
    • Post-Hepatic Jaundice: When there is an obstruction in the drainage of bilirubin from your body, it results in post-hepatic jaundice.
    Let’s now take a look at the levels of bilirubin in adults and infants that determine the onset of jaundice.

    Jaundice Level Chart

    The most common 
    The normal bilirubin levels in adults range from 0.2 mg/dL to 1.2 mg/dL. Any levels above this are considered high, and the individual has an increased risk of developing jaundice.
    Newborns should not have bilirubin levels above 5 mg/dL. Infants whose bilirubin levels rise above this level after a few days of birth are also at risk of developing jaundice.
    High bilirubin levels are not favored, and you must keep them in check to avoid health complications that may lead to jaundice. The following are some natural ways by which you can keep your bilirubin levels under control to combat jaundice right at home.

    Natural Ways To Treat Jaundice

    1. Sunlight 
    2. Sugarcane Juice 
    3. Essential Oils 
    4. Goat Milk 
    5. Green Grape Juice 
    6. Garlic 
    7. Ginger 
    8. Lemon Juice 
    9. Vitamin D 
    10. Yogurt 
    11. Tomatoes 
    12. Amla 
    13. Barley Water 
    14. Basil Leaves 
    15. Oregano 
    16. Papaya 

    Prevention Tips

    • Maintain a healthy weight.
    • Avoid drinking alcohol.
    • Manage your cholesterol levels.
    • Maintain hygiene.
    • Drink clean and boiled water and eat fresh food.
    Coming to the diet, given below are some foods that may further aggravate your condition and must be avoided.

    Foods To Avoid

    Avoid these foods if you are suffering from jaundice:
    • Sugar
    • Meat
    • Dairy products
    • Salt
    These foods are quite hard to digest and end up aggravating your condition.
    What are the best foods for jaundice patients?
    A diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grains, and nuts is great for those suffering from jaundice.
    How long should your baby be exposed to the sun for treating jaundice?
    For treating jaundice in your baby, you can expose him/her to sunlight through a closed glass window for about 15 minutes, four times daily.
    Please do see the doctor as soon as symptoms arise as jaundice can be a presentation of many severe diseases like hepatitis , liver failure, and certain hematological conditions.
  • COMPILED BY VARIOUS MEDICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH