When red blood cells die, they leave behind bilirubin, a yellow-orange pigment in the blood. The liver filters bilirubin from the bloodstream to be removed in our stool. If too much is in our system or our liver is overloaded, it causes a buildup known as hyperbilirubinemia. This causes jaundice, where our skin and the whites of our eyes look yellow.
Newborn babies often get it. About 60% have jaundice, also known as icterus, within the first couple of days after birth. In adults it’s less common and could be a symptom of a liver, blood, or gallbladder problem.
Jaundice Causes
Jaundice in adults is rare, but anyone can get it for many reasons for example:
Hepatitis: Liver inflammation can be caused by a virus, autoimmune disorder, alcohol or drug use, or chemical exposure. It may be short-lived (acute) or chronic (lasts for at least 6 months). Long-term inflammation can damage the liver, causing jaundice.
Alcohol-related liver disease: If patient drinks, he/she could seriously damage his/her liver; two diseases in particular, alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, harm the liver.
Other liver disease: Cirrhosis can also be caused by autoimmune diseases, genetic conditions that are passed down in the family, and hepatitis. A severe condition known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis can cause nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In fatty liver disease, fat builds up in the liver along with inflammation, which damages it over time.
Blocked bile ducts: Tubes that carry bile from our liver and gallbladder to the small intestine. If the tubes are blocked by gallstones, cancer, inflammation, or rare liver diseases, patient could get jaundice.
Pancreatic cancer: This is the 10th most common cancer in men and the ninth in women. It can block the bile duct, causing jaundice.
Certain medicines: Allopathic drugs like acetaminophen, penicillin, birth control pills, antibiotic, NSAIDS & other painkillers, steroids etc have been linked to liver disease.
Blood clots: If a person’s body reabsorbs a large blot clot (hematoma) under the skin, it can increase his bilirubin levels.
Hemolytic anemias: Destroyed blood cells are sometimes removed from the bloodstream too quickly, increasing bilirubin levels.
Types of Jaundice
There are four main types of jaundice, which are grouped by where the bilirubin collects in our body. A blood test can determine which type of jaundice patient has.
Prehepatic
If bilirubin builds up before blood enters the liver, it’s known as prehepatic jaundice. This means patient breaking down red blood cells and creating more bilirubin than his/her liver can process.
Hepatic
If patient’s liver isn’t able to process bilirubin well, it’s called hepatic jaundice.
Post hepatic
Post hepatic jaundice is when bilirubin builds up after passing through the liver and patient’s body can’t clear it quickly enough.
Obstructive jaundice
This condition is when bile isn’t able to drain into the intestines because of a blocked or narrow bile or pancreatic duct.
Symptoms
Jaundice may have no symptoms. Any signs patient has may depend on how quickly the condition is getting worse. Well-known symptoms are:
Fever,
Yellowing of the skin and jaundice eyes or scleral icterus,
Stomach pain,
Chills,
Dark urine,
Tar- or clay-colored stools,
Flu-like symptoms,
Itchy skin,
Weight loss,
Feeling unusually irritated,
Confusion,
Abnormal drowsiness,
Bruising or bleeding easily,
Bloody vomit.
How long does jaundice last in adults?
How long jaundice lasts depends on what’s causing it and the treatment patient need. If a medication (especially allopathic) is causing it, jaundice will fade after patient stop taking that medicine. If hepatitis is causing it, treat the condition. If there is a blocked bile duct or gallstones, allopath will advise surgery, while Homeopathic doctor has to advise medicines that may be required.
Diagnoses
Ask your patient about his/her symptoms and medical history, then a physical exam to see if there’s swelling in liver or other body parts.
To get more information, order blood tests – complete blood count (CBC) to measure bilirubin and cholesterol levels, if patient has jaundice, level of bilirubin will be high.
Other tests to find the cause of jaundice and how severe it is, including:
A hepatitis panel, which is a blood test that shows if patient has, or had, hepatitis. It tests for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. If there are no hepatitis antibodies in the blood, it means the patient is not ill, or had it in the past, but body has cleared it.
Tests to check enzyme levels in the liver to see how well it is functioning. If enzyme levels are higher or lower than normal, it can mean you have disease or damage to the liver or bile ducts.
Imaging, like a CT scan, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, for blocked ducts near the gallbladder.
A liver biopsy (needle inserted into the belly to the liver, through a vein in the neck, or through a cut in the belly), to show any damage to, or disease in, the liver.
Prothrombin time, measures how long it takes for blood plasma to clot. If it clots faster or slower than the normal range (between 10 and 13 seconds). If it clots too slowly, that may mean there are problems with the liver.
Allopathic andHomeopathictreatment for jaundice
Allopathic doctors thinks that, in adults, jaundice itself usually isn’t treated. But Homeopathic doctor will treat the condition that’s causing it.
→♠ If patient has acute viral hepatitis, Click Here for treatments.
→♠ If a blocked bile duct is to blame, Click Here for treatments.
→♠ If patient’s skin is itching, an allopathic doctor can prescribe cholestyramine (oral). This medication is used to remove bile acids from the body, which cause itching.
→♠While a Homeopathic doctor should advise treatment for root cause.
Phototherapy for jaundice
Phototherapy or morning and evening sun therapy. In allopathic hospitals allopathic doctors uses a fluorescent white or blue-spectrum light that breaks down bilirubin so it can be released from the body. Homeopaths advise sunlight therapy which is very useful specially for newborns.
P. S: This article is only for doctors having good knowledge about Homeopathy and allopathy, for learning purpose(s).
For proper consultation and treatment, please visit our clinic.
None ofabove-mentioned medicine(s) is/are the full/complete treatment but just hints for treatment; every patient has his/her own constitutional medicine.
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It is in point of fact a great and helpful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
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