Jaundice

Jaundice:  

It is a yellowish coloring of body tissues, resulting from an alteration in normal bilirubin metabolism or flow of bile into the hepatic or biliary duct system

Types of Jaundice

1.      Haemolytic Jaundice

It is due to an increased breakdown of red blood cells which produces an increased amount of unconjugated bilirubin in the blood. The liver is unable to handle this increased load.

Causes: blood transfusion reaction, sickle cell crisis, haemolytic anaemia

2.      Haepatocellular Jaundice (hepatic)

It results from the liver’s altered ability to take up bilirubin from the blood or to conjugate or excrete it. Both unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin serum levels increase

Causes: hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocarcinoma

3.      Obstructive Jaundice (posthepatic)

It is due to impeded or obstructed flow of bile through the liver or biliary duct system. The obstruction may be intrahepatic or extrahepatic.

Causes: liver tumours, hepatitis, cirrhosis, carcinoma of pancreas head   

Sign and Symptoms of Jaundice

·         Extreme weakness, headache, fever

·         Loss of appetite, fatigue

·         Severe constipation, nausea  

·         Yellow discoloration of the eyes, tongue, skin and urine