jaundice, definition, causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment
Definition of jaundice
Jaundice is a condition characterized by yellowing of the skin, sclera (the white part of the eye), and mucous membranes of the nose and mouth due to accumulation of bilirubin in the blood and other body tissues. Other symptoms can be cloudy (dark) urine and pale colored stools.
Bilirubin is formed when hemoglobin decomposes due to the renewal of old or damaged red blood cells. After bilirubin is formed, this substance then enters the blood vessels and is then taken to the liver. In this organ, bilirubin then mixes with bile.Bilirubin which has been mixed with bile is then transferred to the digestive tract through the bile duct before finally being discharged outside the body along with urine and feces.
If the above process is disrupted and bilirubin is late in entering the liver or bile duct, this substance will accumulate in the blood and settle on the skin so that symptoms of jaundice are seen.
Jaundice is divided into three types, namely pre-hepatic, intra-hepatic, and post-hepatic. Pre-hepatic jaundice occurs when red blood cells break down too quickly before their time so that bilirubin levels increase rapidly. This condition can be caused by hemolytic anemia, malaria or sickle cell anemia. Pre-hepatic jaundice can be suffered by all ages.
Different from pre-hepatic, intra-hepatic jaundice occurs when the liver is damaged so that the ability of these organs to process bilirubin is impaired. Liver damage can be caused by hepatitis and cirrhosis. Intra-hepatic jaundice mostly affects middle-aged people.
Whereas for the third type of jaundice, which is post-hepatic, it occurs because of a disturbance in the bile duct so that bilirubin is not completely wasted into the digestive tract. This condition can be caused by gallstones, pancreatitis, or tumors. Like intra-hepatic, post-hepatic jaundice mostly affects middle-aged people.
Yellow baby
If you have just had a baby and your body looks yellow, you don't need to worry. This is reasonable because the systems in the baby's body (including systems that function to remove bilirubin) have not functioned optimally. Usually the yellow symptoms in the baby will disappear on their own without needing to be treated within two weeks.But if it does not disappear in 3 days or is accompanied by signs the baby does not want to drink, it appears weak and continues to be sleepy, and the crying sounds high or shrill.
Diagnosis of jaundice
See a doctor if you experience symptoms of jaundice. There are several types of tests that doctors may offer to detect the cause of jaundice, including urine tests, blood tests, and liver function tests. In addition, there are also scanning tests that are usually offered when doctors suspect jaundice is caused by damage in the liver or bile ducts.
Treatment of jaundice
Treatment of jaundice depends on the cause, type, and severity. For example, surgery might be offered by a doctor if jaundice is caused by a blocked bile duct. Another example is blood transfusion, if jaundice is caused by sickle cell anemia. If jaundice is caused by very severe liver damage, chances are the doctor will offer a transplant or liver transplant.
Prevention of jaundice
Because there are various health problems that can cause jaundice, not all cases can be prevented. Even so, to minimize the risk of getting the disease, there are several ways you can do, including keeping your weight at a healthy limit, limiting consumption of alcoholic beverages, vaccinating hepatitis A and B, and not injecting drugs into the body to avoid hepatitis C.
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