Types of jaundice, symptom of jaundice
A yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes is the symptom of jaundice. This condition typically occurs when bilirubin, a pigmented component of bile, builds up in the blood. Bilirubin is a by-product produced by the liver as it breaks down red blood cells to recycle their iron. It is mixed with bile, a digestive juice that is made by the liver, and is eventually excreted from the body in the urine or stool. Jaundice develops if the bilirubin is allowed to accumulate in the body.
There are three general types of jaundice: the most common is due to hepatitis or some other liver disorder; another, known as obstructive jaundice, usually results from gallstones or another gallbladder disease; and the least com mon involves some Sort of abnormality in bilirubin metabolism.
Each year more than 27 million North Americans are afflicted with liver and gallbladder disorders, but not all of these people develop jaundice. Among those who do, hepatitis—an inflammation of the liver—is the likely cause. Five major forms of viral hepatitis have been identified to date; the liver inflammation may also be due to alcohol or drug abuse, adverse reaction to a medication, as well as bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infections of the liver. Some strains of viral hepatitis are highly contagious and can enter the human body through water or food (especially shellfish) that has been contaminated by human waste. Hepatitis can also be spread through blood transfusions from an infected person or by direct contact with infected body fluids or the use of contaminated syringes.
In addition to jaundice, the symptoms of hepatitis include fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. The urine may be dark in color due to increased bilirubin content, and the stools may be light, clay- colored, or whitish, an indication that bilirubin is not being excreted from the intestinal tract. In a few cases, hepatitis may be serious enough to result in liver failure, coma, and death.
Jaundice may also be due to Gilbert’s syndrome (a disorder of biliruhin metabolism), which affects 3 to 5 percent of the population and may be misdiagnosed as hepatitis. In Gilbert’s syndrome, chronic jaundice is the only abn and does not signify liver disease. Several other rare forms ofjaundice are inherit ed disorders.
