Jaundice can occur when too much bilirubin builds up in the body. Jaundice can occur if: Too many red blood cells are dying or breaking down and going to the liver. The liver is overloaded or damaged. The bilirubin from the liver is unable to properly move into the digestive tract. Things that can cause jaundice include: Infections, most commonly viral Use of certain drugs Cancer of the liver, bile ducts or pancreas Blood disorders, gallstones, birth defects and a number of other medical conditions.
Symptoms Jaundice may appear suddenly or develop slowly over time. Symptoms of jaundice commonly include: Yellow skin and the white part of the eyes sclera -- when jaundice is more severe, these areas may look brown Yellow color inside the mouth Dark or brown-colored urine Pale or clay-colored stools Itching pruritis usually occurs with jaundice Note: If your skin is yellow and the whites of your eyes are not yellow, you may not have jaundice.
Other symptoms depend on the disorder causing the jaundice: Cancers may produce no symptoms, or there may be fatigue, weight loss, or other symptoms. Hepatitis may produce nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or other symptoms. Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show liver swelling. Other tests may include: Hepatitis virus panel to look for infection of the liver Liver function tests to determine how well the liver is working Complete blood count to check for low blood count or anemia Abdominal ultrasound Abdominal CT scan Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography MRCP Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram PTCA Liver biopsy Cholesterol level Prothrombin time.
Treatment Treatment depends on the cause of the jaundice. It can also signal a problem with the pancreas or gallbladder. Babies can also be born with jaundice, a condition known as infant jaundice via Mayo Clinic. The condition is common, especially in premature babies or sometimes babies who are breast-fed.
Infant jaundice usually goes away on its own with no need for treatment. In rare cases, a newborn with severe jaundice may need a blood transfusion. People with the disorder lead normal, healthy lives. There is no evidence to suggest that the condition is harmful or leads to more serious diseases. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly. Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment.
Around half of cases of anal fissures heal by themselves with proper self-care and avoidance of constipation. Anyone of any age can be struck by appendicitis, but it seems to be more common during childhood and adolescence. Barium tests are used to examine conditions of the digestive tract such as reflux, narrowing or ulceration.
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Hepatitis A, B, and C tests: tests for a variety of liver infections. The doctor will examine the structure of the liver if he suspects an obstruction.
They may also perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP. This is a procedure that combines endoscopy and x-rays. A liver biopsy can detect inflammation, cirrhosis, cancer, and fatty liver.
To generate a tissue sample, this test requires sticking a needle into the liver. Under a microscope, the sample is then tested. Treatment: Again, jaundice itself is a symptom of many potential underlying conditions, not a disorder.
The type of medication prescribed for jaundice by your healthcare provider depends on the cause. Your healthcare provider, not the symptom itself, will treat the cause of jaundice. Your yellow skin will probably revert to its natural state until therapy starts. Treatment of jaundice focuses on the cause rather than the symptoms of jaundice. The following treatments are used: Anemia-induced jaundice can be treated by increasing the amount of iron in the blood, either by taking iron supplements or by eating more iron-rich foods.
Hepatitis-induced jaundice requires antiviral or steroid medications. Doctors can treat obstruction-induced jaundice by surgically removing the obstruction.
So if the use of a drug has induced jaundice, treatments involve changing to an alternative drug. If alcoholic beverages cause liver disease, stopping drinking will be crucial in resolving jaundice. Gallstones that cause jaundice may require treatment, which is usually the removal of the gallbladder. Liver cancer will require specialist treatment and may include radiation and chemotherapy, and other supportive therapy medications. Cirrhosis is the end stage of chronic liver disease and has many causes.
Treatment for cirrhosis jaundice will depend on the type of liver disease present but may include the use of corticosteroids or diuretics. When to visit a Doctor?
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