These Are The Main And Basic Reasons And Effects Of Jaundice

The bone marrow running down our back is the producer of blood cells where every time it produces a handsome amount of cells known as stem cells which then segregates itself into red and white and plasma cells. The presence of hemoglobin makes the cell red. When this cell energy breaks down the hemoglobin is partly released into blood with a small portion of it undergoing a chemical reaction which gives birth to bilirubin, a byproduct formation.

Usually the bilirubin is passed out of our body in the form of bile excretion by the liver. Before this, the liver metabolizes the bilirubin. It is a hindrance in the normal working of the procedure that causes problems in metabolism or creation of bilirubin which is why the jaundice is known to occur.

Coming from the French word ‘jaune’ meaning yellow, jaundice is a skin discoloration along with the increased mucous levels in the body caused by the increase in the amount of bilirubin. Our eyes, the white fleshy portion just behind the pupil gets affected too. When jaundice occurs in a newborn baby the condition is termed as neonatal jaundice. Then jaundice is also prominent in adults caused by various underlying disease which at times maybe life threateningly distressful.

However in kids, the effect of jaundice is somewhat sated and controlled. Yet another form of jaundice is termed as pre hepatic jaundice which is mainly formed due to infection which causes the red blood cells to disintegrate more rapidly than it should. Intra hepatic jaundice is caused due to malfunction of the liver where production of bilirubin is lessened.

Causes Of Jaundice

* Blood Disorder

Certain blood disorder diseases ranging from the softest to the most life threatening disease can be responsible for jaundice. It is noticed often that most of these blood disorders target the red blood cells and their production. Such as leukemia or blood cancer, anemia, sickle cell to be precise, thalassaemia, malaria etc. these are mainly pre hepatic disease caused due to abnormality in red blood cell.

* Bilirubin

Often it is either due to the increase in bilirubin in the body or due to lack of appropriate bilirubin. Bilirubin is produced by the hemoglobin breakdown and a chemical reaction. Thus change in bilirubin level affects the blood and vice versa.

* Bad Liver

Liver conditions are directly related to jaundice. This is essentially when the liver functions haphazardly or in an unorganized way. This then causes the body’s immune system to focus on the liver cells. While the bilirubin formed from chemical reaction awaits it metabolizing by the liver, the bilirubin production or everyday routine is damaged. This may cause either excess production or lack. Alcoholic disturbance in the liver, hepatitis are some of the example.

* Blockage In Bile Duct

The bilirubin after being metabolized and mixed with the intestinal fluids are eventually released from our body through the bile duct. Often there are stones in the bile duct or the acute case of hernia where the organs push through and crowd at the urethra. At such point release of the bilirubin in the form of bile is not possible. Gallstones might also pose a hindrance. The same goes for tumor conditions in the intestinal area or bile ducts. Pregnancy is yet another mature factor that might block or narrow the bile ducts causing passage of bile difficult.

Symptoms Of Jaundice

* Skin Discoloration

A major factor that determines jaundice is the pale yellow skin tone that forms immediately after one is affected with jaundice. This is essentially all a symptom someone needs to detect jaundice. The white fleshy part of our eyes and mucous distribution in our body reacts badly too alongside the skin damages. The whites of the eyes turn a slight yellow tint too.

* Abdominal Pain

While the bile and bilirubin along with it tries to escape through the bile duct, the gall stones or hernia might be keeping it from exiting the body. The body at such a point has no use of this processed left over bile so it rejects the bile and thus the bile has nowhere to go other than try to escape. This might at time cause abdominal pain suggesting bile duct blockage. The same goes for change in color or consistency of stool such as clay colored or white excreta might suggest the presence of gall stones.

* Fever And Chills

Jaundice brings with itself a huge fever with burning hot body temperature and shivering bone cutting chills. As one lays bed ridden and helpless, this usually signifies the presence of hepatitis. Sweating may follow and then there is the constant vomiting of almost everything one has had in the past few hours. This makes the body all the more tired and exhausted.

* Sudden Weight Loss

As mentioned above in the causes, symptoms of jaundice cause severe malnutrition at times due to malfunctions in the pancreas and bile duct. If you see that you suddenly have lost a whole lot of weight in a matter of just a few days chances are that you are suffering with jaundice and need medical help immediately.