Jaundice Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

Jaundice disease is generally differentiated by the yellow coloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes. This is caused by the increase or gathering of a waste product known as bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice is considered not only as an ailment but, but also as a path to many other related diseases. The yellowish coloring of the skin and the sclera may vary based on the amount of the chemical in the blood. At some situation, if the chemical level is too high, the color of the skin will become brown and not yellow.

Reasons of Jaundice and Symptoms:

Jaundice is caused by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. It is vital that we understand the basic jaundice symptoms and the main factor as to how this material is being despatched into our blood stream. Bilirubin mainly gets along the blood stream with the assistance of the red blood cells. These cells will naturally get botched as they become old. As the blood cells play the role of a mode for haemoglobin, an iron content which carries oxygen to the blood, is then liberated from the spoiled cells. Bilirubin is then formed as a result of the removal of iron.

Jaundice symptoms can also be seen in the liver too. It plays a very imperative role in developing jaundice. The main function of the liver is the removal of waste products from the blood stream. As discussed earlier, bilirubin is a waste product of red blood cells. Similarly, if the functioning of the liver is jeopardized by this bilirubin, jaundice can result. Likewise, the liver must be eradicating bilirubin from the blood stream and excrete it through the faeces. Whenever there is too much of waste products for the liver to remove or when the red blood cells get affected, jaundice occurs. Finally, hindrance in the bile ducts can curtail the flow of bile and bilirubin to decrease.

Some other symptoms of jaundice include itching, which at times can be intense, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, abdominal swelling, as well as by nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, dark-colored urine and light-colored stools.

Jaundice in newborns is very common these days. The yellowing of skin and other tissues of an infant child is known as neonatal jaundice. Appearance of bilirubin level in infants is 85umol/l (5mg/dL). Similarly, jaundice in adults has been usual for a quite long time. In adults , the bilirubin level is nearly 34umol/l (2mg/dL). Jaundice can be detected in newborns is identified by discoloring of the skin with digital pressure so that it exposes the underlying skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Diagnosis and  Treatment of Jaundice to be followed:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):

Magnetic resonance imaging scans determines the soft tissues of the abdomen by the employment of magnetization of the body. They are quite comprehensive like CT in the determination of tumors and studying of bile ducts. MRI scans can be altered to locate the bile ducts better than CT scan tests. Thus, they are preferred for determining the cause of bile duct obstruction.

Computerized Tomography (CT or CAT scans):

Computerized Tomography or CT scans are scans that utilize x-rays to analyze the soft tissues of the abdomen. Although they are considered not as effective as ultrasonography in diagnosing gallstones, they do prove efficient in identifying tumors in the liver and the pancreas and dilated bile ducts.

Ultrasonography:

Ultrasonography is an uncomplicated, secure and easily-accessible test which employs sound waves to analyze the organs within the abdomen.

Considering all the above-qouted methods, the treatment of jaundice generally needs a diagnosis of the particular cause of the jaundice and the treatment should be aimed at the particular cause.