Jaundice

December 13, 2020Articles 1

Jaundice itself is not a disease,but it is a symptom of several possible underlying illness. Classic features of jaundice are yellowing of skin and eyes. Jaundice occurs when there is too much bilirubin in your blood stream.

Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is created by the breakdown of dead red blood cells in the liver . Normally ,the liver gets rid of bilirubin with old red blood cells but whenever this normal physiology disturbs jaundice appears. Jaundice may indicate a serious problem with the function of your red blood cells,liver ,gall bladder or pancreas.

Symptoms –

• A tinge of yellow colour to the skin and the whites of the eyes ,normally starting at the head and spreading down the body.

• Pale stools

• Dark urine

• Itchiness

• Fatigue

• Abdominal pain

• Weight loss

• Vomitting

• Fever

Types –

• Hepatocellular jaundice –

It occurs as a result of liver disease or injury.

• Haemolytic jaundice –

It occurs as a result of haemolysis or an accelerated breakdown of red blood cells , leading to an increase in production of bilirubin.

• Obstructive jaundice –

It occurs as a result of an obstruction in the bike duct. This prevents bilirubin from leaving the liver.

Causes –

• Acute inflammation of the liver

• Inflammation of the bile duct

• Obstruction of the bile duct

• Haemolytic anaemia

• Gilbert’s syndrome

• Cholestasis

Diagnosis –

• Liver function test (LFT)

• Complete blood check(CBC)

• Hepatitis A ,B ,C test

• MRI ,CT ,USG in more serious cases with obstruction suspect

Treatment –

• Anaemia induced jaundice may be treated by boosting the amount of iron in the blood by either taking iron supplements or eating more iron rich foods.

• Hepatitis induced jaundice requires antiviral or steroid medications.

• Obstruction induced jaundice can be treated by surgical removal of obstruction.

• If jaundice occurs due to some medicine, treatment is to switch on alternative medicine.

Complications –

The itching that accompanies jaundice can sometimes be so intense that patients use to scratch their skin desperately , excessive insomnia along with it.

When complications happen ,this is usually because of underlying problem ,not the jaundice itself.

Neonatal Jaundice –

It is common health issue in newborn infants . Usually it happens to 60% of newborns ,but it’s prevalence increases in premature infants born before 37weeks of pregnancy. Infants normally show signs within 72 hours of birth.

RBCs in the body of an infant are frequently broken down and replaced .This causes the production of more bilirubin. The liver of infants are less developed and therefore less effective at filtering bilirubin from the body. Symptoms will usually resolve without treatment within 2 weeks. Infants with extremely high bilirubin levels will require treatment with either a phototherapy or blood transfusion.

Ayurvedic Perspective –

It is known as Kamla in Ayurveda. It is a disease caused due to altered pitta dosha situated in rakta dhatu which affects the liver.

Line of treatment –

Virechan is the best samshodhan karma for jaundice .It helps in getting rid of excess pitta from the body . Senna ,ghritkumari are especially recommended in jaundice like liver disease .They clean the liver , decongest bile and remove any obstruction in the passage from which the bile flows.

Medicines for Pachana , Deepana ,Snehna and pittashamaka are given for shaman chikitsa.

Herbs used effectively –

• Kutki –