Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and white part of the eye (sclerica).Jaundice or jaundice actually is not a disease, but sign of something disease.
In newborns, jaundice is normal and not something to be worried about. This condition occurs when the baby is 2-4 days old, and will disappear in 1-2 weeks. However, if jaundice occurs in the first 24 hours after the baby is born, or does not go away after the baby is more than 14 days old, consult a doctor.
Causes of Jaundice
Jaundice is caused by a buildup of a substance called bilirubin in the bloodstream. Bilirubin is formed from the breakdown of red blood cells. Everyone has normal levels of bilirubin that vary according to age. In addition, in certain cases, jaundice can also be caused by abnormalities in the bile or liver, such as liver abscess and infection or inflammation of the gallbladder.
In adults, normal bilirubin levels are below 1.2 mg/dL. Whereas in children (under the age of 18 years), normal bilirubin levels are below 1 mg/dL. Especially in newborns, normal bilirubin levels depend on the age of the newborn. Here's the full explanation:
- Age less than 1 day: under 10 mg/dL
- 1 to 2 days old: under 15 mg/dL
- 2 to 3 days old: under 18 mg/dL
- Age more than 3 days: under 20 mg/dL
Babies with bilirubin levels above normal should be treated immediately. Because if the bilirubin level reaches 25 mg/dL, the jaundiced baby can be at risk for brain damage, hearing loss, and disease cerebral palsy.
Symptoms of Jaundice
People with jaundice, the skin, eyes, and the lining of the mouth or nose will look yellowish. In addition, people with jaundice will usually excrete colored stools such as putty and urine that is colored like tea. There are also various other symptoms such as fever and muscle aches.
Jaundice Treatment
The doctor will check the level of bilirubin in the patient's blood, then perform several additional tests such as blood tests, urine tests, scan tests, and liver biopsies to find out the cause of the jaundice.
Treatment of jaundice depends on the underlying cause. Jaundice treatment is divided into three, namely:
- Ptreatment pre-hepatic, to prevent red blood cells from being destroyed too much or too quickly, so that the buildup of bilirubin can be avoided.
- Ptreatmentintra-hepatic, to repair liver damage, and prevent widespread damage to the organ.
- Ptreatment post hepatic, to remove blockages in the bile ducts and pancreas.
Jaundice can be prevented. Either by getting hepatitis A and B vaccinations, taking malaria prevention drugs, limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and so on. With proper treatment, hepatitis B patients can live a normal life.