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Friday, July 19, 2013

The Effects of Jaundice

Jaundice is a condition that turns skin yellow. More than half of all newborns acquire some type of jaundice during the first week of life, according to the University of Virginia Health System. While jaundice is commonly associated with newborn infants, the condition can affect a person of any age, race and color, and could be a sign of health issues.

Causes

    Jaundice is caused by an overabundance of bilirubin in the body. Bilirubin is a yellow chemical found in hemoglobin, the substance that transports oxygen in the red blood cells. As red blood cells decompose, the body creates replacement cells. The older cells are treated by the liver. If the liver cannot deal with the blood cells as they decompose, bilirubin increases in the body giving the skin a yellowish appearance. A newborn will often develop jaundice because their liver enzymes are not developed enough to breakdown the red blood cells.

Effects

    Jaundice in most cases is not harmful and has no long-term effects. Doctors carefully keep an eye out for jaundice and are aggressive in treatment. High bilirubin levels can lead to seizures and kernicterus, a condition where the toxic levels negatively affects the development of a baby's brain. Occasionally, a baby will develop jaundice for a rare reason, such as through infections or trouble with the thyroid gland. In these instances, an infant can develop long-term effects from these complications, not from the jaundice.

Symptoms

    General symptoms of jaundice include a yellow tint to a person's skin, often starting on the face and progressing down the body, tiredness and lack of appetite. Symptoms of jaundice can look like other medical conditions. If there is any doubt, consult your physician.

Diagnosis

    In the majority of instances, jaundice can be diagnosed visually through a person's skin color and eyes. A physician can detect jaundice by feeling for enlargement of the spleen and liver and to see if there is any pain in the abdomen. More detailed ways to detect jaundice is through blood tests or a bone marrow biopsy. In cases where it is unclear if jaundice exists, an ultrasound of the spleen will reveal a definitive answer.

Treatment

    Treatment for jaundice depends on a variety of scenarios, such as the cause and the level of bilirubin. Treatment aims to prevent bilirubin level's from increasing to dangerous proportions. There are various ways to treat jaundice. One way is to use phototherapy. With phototherapy, a person is exposed to distinct blue lights. A person's entire body is exposed to the special light and the eyes are kept protected. A blood transfusion can also help with jaundice. New blood can help to raise the red blood cell and lower the amounts of bilirubin. Another method of curbing jaundice is to stop breastfeeding an infant with jaundice. If an infant drinks formula for a few days, it can decrease bilirubin levels.

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