Jaundice, yellowing of the skin - Causes, symptoms and treatment. MF.

Jaundice is yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, which is especially noticeable on the eye sclera, the lower surface of the tongue( if the tongue is raised to the upper palate), and also on the palms. It is here that jaundice is manifested in the first place. Yellowing of the skin is also accompanied by darkening of urine - urine "color of beer" - this symptom appears first of all.

Yellowing of the skin is most often a sign of an elevated bilirubin content in the blood. Sometimes the skin turns yellow with a high content of carotene in the blood, which happens when you abuse carrots or orange diets.

Bilirubin is a pigment of blood, which is a product of the breakdown of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin, in turn, is an iron-containing protein that performs a transport function for oxygen and carbon dioxide and is contained in red blood cells - red blood cells.

Bilirubin is direct and indirect.

The bilirubin formed after the breakdown of hemoglobin binds to the blood plasma protein. This bilirubin is called indirect, it is insoluble in water and can not be excreted from the body with urine or bile.

Indirect bilirubin enters the liver where it undergoes a number of biochemical reactions, which leads to the formation of direct bilirubin. Direct bilirubin is freely excreted with bile in the intestine, as well as in the urine.

The most common causes of jaundice.

Liver diseases( acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, cysts, parasitic lesion, benign and malignant neoplasms, Gilbert's syndrome, etc.).
Diseases of the biliary tract( constriction, tumors, concrements of the gallbladder and bile ducts).
Consequence of increased destruction of erythrocytes( some congenital blood diseases, poisoning with drugs, alcohol, poisons, with extensive burns, hemorrhages).
There is a false jaundice when only the skin( not mucous) is stained, due to the accumulation of carotenes in it with excessive consumption of carrots, oranges, pumpkins, medicines( acrychin, picric acid).

Types of jaundice:

Depending on the level at which bilirubin is removed from the body, 3 types of jaundice are identified:

Hemolytic jaundice occurs when accelerated decay of hemoglobin occurs when bilirubin is formed so much that the liver does not have time to convert indirect bilirubin in the direct. Therefore, with this kind of jaundice increased indirect bilirubin.

Hepatic jaundice is caused by liver damage under the influence of any causes: viral hepatitis, drug or toxic liver damage, liver cirrhosis, alcoholic damage, leptospirosis, pseudotuberculosis, etc. In this case, the blood often increases the content of direct bilirubin, which is explained by back absorptionit into the bloodstream because of the inability of the liver cells to process it.

Cholestatic jaundice. Is a consequence of the violation of the movement of bile because of blockage of the bile ducts. This can occur when the bile ducts or gall bladder is closed with a stone or tumor. With cholestatic jaundice, direct bilirubin also increases to a greater extent, which is associated with excessive accumulation of it in the bile ducts and a reverse absorption into the blood.

The most common causes of infectious jaundice are viral hepatitis A, B or C. In acute viral hepatitis, jaundice can be accompanied by an increase in body temperature, various dyspeptic phenomena - abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, stool disorder.

Than people's remedies for jaundice

are dangerous. Do not try to treat jaundice yourself, this can lead to negative consequences. In the literature( on the Internet, among others) there are often popular recipes for the treatment of jaundice. There are those who recommend treatment with choleretic broths, but if jaundice is caused by gallstones and bile duct stones, this treatment will make the condition worse. Do not wait for complications! The sooner treatment begins under the supervision of a doctor, the easier it will be to cope with jaundice.

What to do if you get jaundice

If you get yellow skin coloring, sclera eyes, palms, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause. If the condition is acute( poisoning, burns, etc.), you need to call an ambulance.

To which doctors to address with jaundice

First aid doctor
Gastroenterologist
Infectionist
Hematologist

At the first signs of yellowing of the skin or mucous membranes, as well as with darkening of urine, you should immediately consult a doctor!