How does jaundice start? Viral hepatitis B. Sauerkraut juice

- a clinical and biochemical syndrome that occurs when bilirubin accumulates in the blood and causes yellowing of the skin and sclera. She is considered characteristic symptom liver disease or biliary tract disease.

The main causes of jaundice

Violation of the process of binding bilirubin by liver cells;
increased destruction of red blood cells, followed by the release of bilirubin into the blood;
partial or complete blockage of the bile duct due to which bilirubin is not excreted into the gastrointestinal tract.

It can be confused with carotene or false jaundice, in which yellowing of the skin occurs when carotene accumulates in its cells. Carotene jaundice can develop in a child or in an adult with excessive and long-term use carrots, beets, pumpkins, oranges, picric acid or drugs with quinacrine.

Jaundice classification

1. Hepatic(parenchymal) - is formed when the intrahepatic metabolism of bilirubin is disturbed due to damage to hepatocytes that ensure its connection with glucuronic acid. As a result, the skin of the patient acquires a characteristic saffron shade, since the content of unbound bilirubin in the blood increases. Since it does not enter the intestines, the feces become colorless, and the urine, on the contrary, due to the penetration of bilirubin into bladder, stained in the color of dark beer.

There are the following types of hepatic jaundice:

infectious or hepatocellular- the most common sign of acute or chronic liver diseases (hepatocellular cancer, hepatitis, mononucleosis, cirrhosis, leptospirosis, toxic liver damage). The patient has icteric coloration of the skin and eye sclera, spider veins"up to 1 cm in size on the upper body, bright red palms of the hands," crimson "tongue, in men - an increase in the mammary glands.

cholestatic- mostly occurs when medicinal hepatitis, sarcoidosis, sepsis, severe infections, cystic fibrosis, viral and toxic damage or cirrhosis of the liver. At the same time, the patient is tormented by constant itching of the skin, feces and urine acquire dark color.

enzymopathic- occurs in the syndromes of Gilbert, Dubin-Johnson and Rotor, arising from insufficient production in the body of enzymes responsible for the hepatic metabolism of bilirubin.

In 80-97% of newborns, congenital or physiological jaundice is diagnosed.
Causes of jaundice, such as hepatitis B and C, are transmitted through blood or sexual contact.
Obstructive jaundice is more common in people over 40 years of age.
Jaundice develops in 80-90% of cases of pancreatic cancer.

Depending on the level of accumulated serum bilirubin, jaundice includes two forms:

unconjugated(level indirect bilirubin greater than 1.0 mg/dl);
conjugative(content of direct bilirubin is higher than 0.3 mg/dL).

Obstructive jaundice occurs with partial or complete retention of bile throughout all bile ducts due to swelling of their walls - cholangitis. In this case, the disease is often accompanied reduced coagulability blood, often bruises form under the skin, bleeding from the nose, uterus and intestines are observed.

Jaundice of pregnancy is a disease that develops in some cases in the second half of pregnancy. It may develop as independent disease, as a result of metabolic disorders, or as one of the symptoms of toxicosis of pregnancy.

The main forms of jaundice in newborns

If postpartum jaundice persists in a newborn for more than two weeks, it is considered pathological. Pathological or nuclear jaundice requires urgent examination and urgent treatment, since unbound bilirubin accumulates in the blood, affecting the basal ganglia and nuclei of the child's brain stems. Basically, prolonged jaundice is a symptom of hemolytic anemia, biliary atresia and other serious illnesses. About 50% of sick babies die, surviving children experience complications such as - cerebral paralysis, which becomes most noticeable at the age of six months, impaired hearing, vision, coordination of movements and speech.

Symptoms of jaundice

Complications of jaundice

Differential diagnosis of jaundice

Additional studies are performed depending on the results obtained, the alleged or established type of jaundice. Properly diagnosed and timely prescribed treatment can avoid complications of the disease and save the patient's life.

Treatment of jaundice

Obstructive jaundice is cured radically with the help of operations to remove stones and tumors of the gallbladder or to drain the biliary tract;
hemolytic jaundice accompanied by various anemias in which therapy with glucocorticoid hormones or splenectomy is indicated;
infectious jaundice is treated in infectious diseases hospitals, antiviral therapy is carried out in combination with liver supportive therapy.

Of great importance in hepatic jaundice is fractional nutrition and diet, predominantly carbohydrates. In severe forms, rectal or intravenous glucose is recommended, sometimes insulin is prescribed, which promotes the accumulation of glycogen.

Prevention of jaundice

Viral hepatitis also occurs in cats and dogs, however, they can only become infected with it from a sick animal, and not through dirty water or products.

Folk treatment for jaundice

With jaundice caused by cirrhosis of the liver, sauerkraut juice cooked without salt helps. Drink a glass 2 times a day, alternating with beet juice syrup. To the treatment of disease in adults and children folk ways should be approached with caution, after consulting with the attending physician, since the consequences of taking medicinal herbs unpredictable.

Treatment of jaundice in newborns and adults depends on many factors. Initially, you need to understand the reasons for its occurrence. Necessarily such people need to prevent the development of hepatitis, namely. Babies with in without fail must be vaccinated.

Jaundice in newborns is a very common occurrence. If all the symptoms of the disease disappear after 21 days after birth, then they speak of physiological jaundice. In this case, the yellowness of the skin is caused by the immaturity of the liver. If jaundice in an infant does not go away for more than a month, then this is already a pathological condition that requires treatment.

Important! Delayed treatment can cause severe complications.

Jaundice can be treated in several ways:

1. Phototherapy. This is the safest and easiest treatment for newborns with light. A phototherapy lamp is used.
2. Conservative drug therapy. If the bilirubin balance is disturbed, drugs such as Zixorin, Benzonal and Phenobarbital are prescribed. Additionally, enterosorbents are used.

AT severe cases the child is given a blood transfusion.

Conservative treatment of jaundice is used in violation metabolic processes. Phototherapy is prescribed for newborns, even with physiological jaundice, in order to quickly get rid of the yellowness of the skin and avoid complications.

During this procedure, the child is placed in a special incubator and 4 lamps are directed at him. Light penetrates the skin and promotes the transformation of excess bilirubin. As a result, all symptoms disappear instantly. During phototherapy, doctors take all safety measures, cover the eyes and genitals of boys.

In some cases, after phototherapy, the child needs to restore water balance. After the procedure, infusor therapy is performed.

Newborns with jaundice can be vaccinated no earlier than a month after recovery. If you get vaccinated during jaundice, you can aggravate the condition of the child.

Is there a relationship between hepatitis vaccination and jaundice?

Doctors say that the vaccine does not affect the appearance of jaundice in any way. But the real picture looks very different. Many mothers claim that after vaccination against hepatitis B, their children had yellowing of the skin.

At home, it is impossible to treat jaundice in newborns. How to treat jaundice in adults?

Adult Treatment

Treatment of jaundice directly depends on the cause of its occurrence, type and severity.

• In some cases, adults with its manifestations can be managed with phototherapy and diet. For some liver diseases, adults cannot do without medication.
• In hepatitis, a course of treatment with corticosteroids is needed to prevent the development of cirrhosis of the liver and infection of other people. If an adult does not start therapy, then complications will not be avoided.
• In hepatitis A, detoxification therapy is prescribed, treatment with antiviral drugs is not carried out. Therapy helps to get rid of all harmful substances that have accumulated in the body at the time of liver dysfunction.
• With jaundice, you need to direct all efforts to restore the liver. In this case, adults are prescribed hepatoprotectors ("Silibor" and "Silibinin"), as well as the drug "Essentiale".
• Dieting during treatment in adults is very important so as not to burden the liver. You need to eat foods rich in protein, iron, B vitamins.
• It is useful to eat meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, vegetables and fruits, especially cucumbers, tomatoes and zucchini.

How to treat jaundice at home?

Folk and alternative medicine

You can cure jaundice at home with the help of folk remedies. To do this, you can use tincture of St. John's wort, wormwood, succession, celandine, plantain and extract corn silk.

Important! Before self-medicating, you need to consult a doctor. Some herbs have contraindications.

• Decoctions of burdock, sorrel, milk thistle, elm bark and rhubarb root will help to cleanse harmful substances.
• Hydrangea, dandelion, magnolia and aloe have a choleretic effect.
• Another effective tool alternative medicine are lice. The fact is that lice contain special substances that, getting into the human blood, kill the virus that caused jaundice. In order to be cured, you need to eat lice, but not everyone can do it.

Lice help at home to get rid of even hepatitis, but only for initial stage. Previously, people were treated this way, they ate lice alive.

Not everyone can swallow lice, so we provide a recipe for jaundice. Take the lice and roll them into a crumb of bread. You should get up to 10 balls with lice. They must be swallowed without chewing.

Despite the fact that this method is disgusting to many, lice really help to cure instantly.

Among the vast majority of the population, it is generally accepted that yellow skin is a direct sign of hepatitis. This is not true. When a manifestation such as jaundice occurs, symptoms in adults indicate the presence certain diseases liver, gallbladder or blood. The yellowness of the skin acts as the main marker of these pathologies.

Jaundice is not an independent disease. This is a complex of symptoms, which is expressed in a change in the color of the skin and eyes (mucous membranes and sclera). Jaundice of the skin develops as an external sign of pathological processes in the liver and related organs, accompanied by the accumulation of bile pigment bilirubin in the tissues and bloodstream.

Exceeding the norm of this pigment causes the skin to turn yellow or grayish-yellow. A high content of bilirubin stains not only the skin, but also urine. It becomes dark, may have a red tint.

Main symptoms

For any type of jaundice, there are several common symptoms. These are the following manifestations:

1. Color change skin and whites of the eyes, with a predominance of yellow.
2. Dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting, heartburn, bitterness in the mouth, impaired stool).
3. An increase in the level of bilirubin, which toxic effect on the body.
4. General weakness, lethargy and decreased ability to work.
5. Scattered attention.

The onset of symptoms in both men and women is the same. Their intensity is not related to the gender or age of the patient. Symptoms may wax or wane. It depends on the type of jaundice, the type of its pathogen, individual features organism.

Classification of pathology

There are two forms of jaundice. They are distinguished by the type of source that provoked the occurrence of an icteric symptom:

1. True caused by the accumulation of bilirubin due to various disorders of the liver or biliary tract.
2. False, provoked by the accumulation in the body of excess dyes or chemical compounds(carotene, picric acid, mecaprin dye).

The true form can occur in any category of the population, including newborns. False jaundice does not pose an immediate health threat. The disease is stopped by adjusting or canceling the substances that caused skin staining when they are taken.

INTERESTING! With false jaundice, unlike its true form, the whites of the eyes and mucous membranes do not stain, while maintaining a healthy color.

For the convenience of diagnosis, there is a special classification of jaundice. It is compiled taking into account such parameters as the sources of occurrence and accompanying Clinical signs. The true form of pathology is divided into several types, with their own specific features.

Hemolytic suprahepatic type

Prehepatic jaundice is characterized by an excess in the bloodstream normal level indirect (unconjugated or unbound) bilirubin. For a number of reasons, there is an accelerated destruction of red blood cells, which are an integral part of unbound bilirubin.

As a result, it forms excess amount of this free pigment, since the liver cells do not have time to process and utilize its entire volume. Excess indirect bilirubin accumulates in the bloodstream, causing yellowing of the skin and eyes.

In the case of hemolytic jaundice, the liver is not a source of pathology, but only one of the organs included in the pathological process.

known the following reasons that cause this type of pathology:

1. Hereditary:

• various hemolytic anemias;
• hemoglobinopathy - pathology of hemoglobin involved in the formation of bilirubin;
• autoimmune diseases.

2. Acquired:

This type of jaundice can appear rapidly, or has a sluggish course.

It is accompanied by characteristic symptoms:

Since indirect bilirubin is very toxic, its uncontrolled increase leads to poisoning of the whole organism. The liver, central nervous system and brain structures are most affected.

Physiological jaundice of newborns belongs to the hemolytic type.. It is detected both in pregnant women and in newly born babies. The mechanism of occurrence is associated with the Rh-conflict of mother and child. If the mother is Rh negative and the father is positive, physiological (primary) jaundice occurs in 98% of newborns.

The presence of a Rh conflict during pregnancy and the development of the primary type of jaundice in an infant are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• impaired fetal development in the prenatal period;
• the skin turns yellow in the first hours after birth, the symptoms increase over 4 days.
• a constant increase in indirect bilirubin in blood tests;

An increase in bilirubin above the peak upper limit of the scale (300 mmol / liter) leads to the development of kernicterus. Why is this form of pathology dangerous? There is a lesion of the central nervous system, accompanied by convulsions, rolling the eyes down, lack of controlled movements.

With absence timely treatment possible development of brain pathologies and developmental delays.

Newborn babies may also suffer from the neonatal type of jaundice, which appears more often in premature babies with underdeveloped organs and functional systems.

Parenchymal hepatic type

Hepatic jaundice is a consequence of pathological damage to the liver tissue (parenchyma). It is also called infectious, according to the type of causative agent of the underlying disease.

The appearance of symptoms is provoked by such negative factors as:

All these factors have a destructive effect on hepatocytes (liver cells). They lose the ability to capture, convert and excrete indirect bilirubin into the bile ducts. Insufficient utilization leads to the gradual accumulation of both unbound and direct bilirubin in the bloodstream and tissues.

What causes yellowing of the skin? The reasons lie in what is happening, and the skin is stained. With parenchymal jaundice, the skin color becomes orange-yellow or reddish. The whites of the eyes and palate turn yellow first, then the surface of the skin.

The hepatic type of pathology has such accompanying symptoms as:

With a long course of the disease, which provoked the development of parenchymal jaundice, the skin color may acquire a greenish tint. by the most severe symptom with this type of pathology, it can become.

Mechanical subhepatic type

Obstructive jaundice is one of the symptoms that accompany diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Obturation or narrowing of the biliary tract causes obstructed outflow, stagnation of bile. One of the signs of obstructive jaundice is a change in the color of the skin and sclera. A symptom such as yellow skin can appear in both an adult and a child.

Staining of tissues in the subhepatic type may be a sign of the following pathologies:

How it manifests itself additional symptoms with obstructive jaundice? These are discoloration of stools, dark frothy urine, high levels of alkaline phosphatase. Since the excretion of bilirubin into the intestine is hampered by a weak outflow of bile, its total amount, especially the direct fraction, accumulates in the bloodstream.

A characteristic symptom of subhepatic jaundice is the presence of bilirubin in the patient's urine.. This fact makes it easy to differentiate the disease that provoked yellowing of the skin. Bile in the bloodstream causes severe itching, so the skin is scratched.

The mechanical type is characterized by a greenish-yellow skin color. green tint it is noticeably pronounced, since the green pigment biliverdin is involved in the coloring of the skin, into which the excess bilirubin deposited in the tissues is transformed.

Features of the pathology

Jaundice is one of the main symptoms of liver disease. When it appears, it is necessary to carry out emergency diagnostics, since yellowing of the skin is a consequence of the disease in a chronic or severe stage.

How long does jaundice last? There is no exact time frame for this symptom. The change in skin color, its duration and intensity, depend on what provoked the appearance of an atypical color of the skin and sclera.

With parenchymal jaundice caused by cirrhosis of the liver, yellowness can persist and intensify throughout the disease. Mechanical jaundice disappears as soon as the normal outflow of bile is restored.

Video

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Have you thought about surgery yet? It is understandable, because the liver is very important organ and its proper functioning is the key to health and well-being. Nausea and vomiting, yellowish skin tone, bitterness in the mouth and bad smell, dark urine and diarrhea... All these symptoms are familiar to you firsthand.

But perhaps it is more correct to treat not the consequence, but the cause? We recommend reading the story of Olga Krichevskaya, how she cured her liver...

Jaundice- dysfunction of the secretion of bile pigments, in particular, the secretion of bilirubin. This disease occurs when the excessive release of this pigment, which as a result is deposited in the tissues of the body. A characteristic manifestation This disease is an excessively yellow hue of the skin, mucous membranes of various organs.

The development of jaundice is the first evidence of violations of the biliary tract, liver. Also, this disease signals the occurrence in the body of painful processes that disrupt the work of these organs. In some cases, jaundice indicates the presence of diseases, the course of which is accompanied by hemolysm of a massive nature.

Classification

In the general case, there are three forms of jaundice, which are pathogenetic in nature.

• hepatocellular form - provoked by a dysfunction in the release of bilirubin in the liver cells. In some cases, the cause of this form of jaundice is the regurgitation of this pigment;
• hemolytic jaundice, or suprahepatic form of the disease - characterized by excessive formation bilirubin in the body. Quite often it develops on the basis of the influence of extraneous mechanisms.
• obstructive jaundice, known as the subhepatic form of the disease, is a category of jaundice in which the secretion of bilirubin is impaired in the area of ​​the bile ducts.

Jaundice that occurs when the body is exposed to viral hepatitis resembles the hepatic form developed due to dysfunction of the hepatocyte and jaundice of the mechanical form of the disease with compressed and edematous bile ducts inside the liver.

The course of jaundice in hemolytic form in nature, it can be similar to subhepatic jaundice, which develops as a result of pigment stones that cause obstruction of the biliary tract.

The hepatic form of the disease may differ in the course with signs of hemolytic and cholestatic syndromes. However, for the appointment of the correct treatment, determining the nature of the development of the disease is of great importance.

The reasons

There are three main categories of hepatic disease

• hepatocellular jaundice, which develops during the course of acute viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and alcoholic liver damage, due to exposure to toxic substances or certain medications. Manifested by an icteric bright edema of the skin, a sudden or more moderate increase in the level of bilirubin. Possible manifestation of extrahepatic symptoms of jaundice, for example, "spider veins";
• cholestatic form - occurs when the body is exposed to drugs, viral and chronic hepatitis, age-related cholestasis benign form, the primary stage of biliary cirrhosis of the liver, cholestatic hepatosis that occurs during pregnancy, and other factors;
• enzymopathic form of jaundice - the development of this form of the disease is based on impaired fermentation processes of elements that are responsible for the capture, conjugation and excretion of bilirubin. The result of this form of jaundice is hyperbilirubinemia of a benign nature, which provokes a hereditary defect in the functioning of the enzyme system of the body.

Types and symptoms of jaundice

Physiological jaundice

Physiological jaundice is a temporary conjugative jaundice that occurs in 60-70% of healthy newborns due to the fact that the fetal red blood cells contain fetal hemoglobin, which is not needed in the new conditions. As a result, the destruction of erythrocytes occurs after birth (in which a large number of bilirubin). This occurs against the background of a deficiency of a protein that ensures the transfer of bilirubin through the membranes of the liver cells. In addition, the insufficient maturation of the enzymatic systems of the liver prevents the conversion of indirect bilirubin into bound bilirubin. Because of this, the rate of excretion of bilirubin from the body of newborns is very low.

Physiological jaundice of newborns manifests itself in the form of yellow staining of the mucous membranes and skin on the 3rd-4th day after birth. At the same time, there is no increase in the liver and spleen, there are no signs of anemia and hemolysis (increased breakdown of red blood cells).

With the improvement of the functioning of the bilirubin excretion system and the disappearance of excess blood cells from the bloodstream, jaundice disappears (usually this process takes 7-14 days), without causing any harm to the body of the newborn. With severe jaundice, doctors previously used intravenous infusions of a solution of glucose, phenobarbital, ascorbic acid. Now this is abandoned due to the low efficiency of the technique.

In premature babies, physiological jaundice is more common, it is more pronounced and lasts longer - about 3-4 weeks. The level of direct bilirubin in the blood becomes maximum on the 5th-6th day of life. If the jaundice is severe, the doctor may recommend medication and phototherapy (UV irradiation of the skin with a special lamp). Under the influence of a lamp, bilirubin undergoes structural isomerization, turning into lumirubin - they are excreted more easily, drooping into urine and bile.

Hemolytic jaundice

Hemolytic jaundice can be provoked by such diseases: hemoglobinopathy, hereditary anemia, hyperbilirubinemia. Hemolytic jaundice is also caused by the following diseases, manifested in the form of yellowing of the eye sclera and skin:

• croupous pneumonia;
• subacute endocarditis (septic);
• malaria;
• Addison-Birmer disease;
• malignant tumors;
• pulmonary infarction;
• liver damage.

The causes of hemolytic jaundice include the toxic state of the patient's body due to poisoning with hydrogen sulfide, phosphorus, arsenic, sulfanilamide.

Jaundice in children in most cases manifests itself in a hemolytic form. The development of this form of jaundice is influenced by malaria, exposure to toxic substances, lymphosarcoma, hemoglobinopathy, hereditary microspherocytic anemia, pulmonary infarction and other diseases.

Symptoms of jaundice in this form are as follows: pale and icteric shades of the skin and sclera, a slight increase in the volume of the liver, an increase in the spleen is observed.

Diagnosis of jaundice of this form also shows the presence of hyperbilirubinemia, in which the indirect fraction predominates. Also symptomatic picture this form of the disease includes an increased level of stercobilin in the composition of feces, erythrocyte metamorphosis, or reduced resistance of these blood cells.

Subhepatic jaundice

The subhepatic form of jaundice in its development is based on obstructions in the outflow of bile from the bile ducts to the duodenal region.

In most cases given form jaundice is diagnosed in the case of the development of cholelithiasis and neoplasms that have arisen in the hepatopancreatodual zone.

Mechanical jaundice

Obstructive jaundice is a pathological syndrome, which consists in a violation of the outflow of bile through the biliary tract into the duodenum 12 due to certain mechanical obstacles. Commonly used synonyms: subhepatic jaundice, acholic jaundice, extrahepatic cholestasis.

Mechanical obstruction of the biliary tract is a complication for a large number of diseases related to both the pancreas and the system of bile ducts and sphincters that regulate the natural flow of bile. The problem is accompanied by characteristic general symptoms: icteric color of the skin, eye sclera and mucous membranes, discoloration of feces and darkening of urine, abdominal pain, skin itching.

Progressive jaundice of this type can lead to hepatic and kidney failure, purulent cholangitis, biliary cirrhosis, sepsis, cholangitis liver abscess. If qualified assistance is absent, a lethal outcome is not ruled out.

Most often, obstructive jaundice has causes associated with cholelithiasis (in 20% of cases), malignant tumors (67%). In patients under the age of 30, cholelithiasis predominates, after 30 and up to 40 years, two causes occur evenly (almost 50/50%), after 40 years, tumor causes are more common. Obstructive jaundice is more often diagnosed in women (up to 82%). However, tumor obstruction of the biliary tract is more often diagnosed in men (54%).

The symptomatic picture of obstructive jaundice is as follows: paroxysmal pain in the area right side hypochondria, sometimes painful sensation occur in the upper abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, feeling of nausea, decreased appetite, weight loss, skin itching, feverish sensations.

In the case of obstruction processes, at a level below the confluence of the cystic duct into the common bile duct, an increase in the volume of the gallbladder can be observed, which is called Courvoisier's symptom. In this form of the disease, the feces do not have a color, and the urine is colored dark.

With the development of the subhepatic form of the disease, high-level hyperbilirubinemia is most often observed, the cause of which is direct bilirubin. Also, the disease manifests itself through a high level of alkaline phosphatase activity. In the case of a long process of obturation, an unusually high level of aminotransferase activity occurs. With the development of complete obstruction of the bile outflow tract, discoloration of the duodenal contents appears.

Conjugative jaundice

Conjugative jaundice of the newborn is a condition caused by the immaturity or ambiguity of any component of the bilirubin metabolism system. Normally occurs from two to ten days of life (name - physiological jaundice of newborns), but sometimes it is a symptom congenital disease. Also, conjugative jaundice is a type of postpartum jaundice that occurs on the second day of life (more often in premature babies) and lasts about 14-30 days. Differential diagnosis of such a disease is difficult to carry out, therefore, stationary observation of the child's matter is recommended.

It is important to distinguish conjugative jaundice from hemolytic and obstructive jaundice, since the methods of treatment and prognosis are completely different. Regardless of the type, jaundice is a yellow staining of the eye sclera and skin (due to the toxic pigment bilirubin). Bilirubin is formed in the body during the breakdown of red blood cells and hemoglobin.

Conjugative jaundice is a group of diseases in which the level of bilirubin in the blood becomes elevated due to a violation of the process of its transition from an indirect form to a bound one. This occurs due to congenital disorders of the enzymatic functions of the liver.

Parenchymal jaundice

Parenchymal jaundice is a dangerous disease that requires immediate treatment. This type of jaundice is characterized by the content of the toxic pigment bilirubin in the blood, which, when normal functioning liver is completely excreted from the body. However, with liver failure or incomplete conductivity of the biliary tract, an accumulation of bilirubin in the blood is observed, due to which the skin, mucous membranes and sclera of the eyes turn yellow.

Parenchymal or hepatic jaundice is fairly easy to diagnose. Except clear sign- yellowing of the skin, sclera and mucous membranes - the disease is accompanied by severe pain in the right side (in the area of ​​​​the liver).

Typical symptoms of parenchymal jaundice:

• apathetic state;
• chills;
• headache (migraine);
• fever;
• loss of appetite;
• fast weight loss;
• nausea;
• muscle pain.

Parenchymal jaundice manifests itself in several forms: hepatocellular, enzymopathic, cholestatic. Hepatocellular jaundice develops with viral hepatitis B acute form, with cirrhosis of the liver, under the influence of drugs with toxic side effects. The last factor is very common, since not all people are responsible for the quality of the drugs they take and self-medicate.

Nuclear jaundice

Kernic jaundice (bilirubin encephalopathy) is a severe brain lesion with unbound bilirubin that occurs with hyperbilirubinemia of any origin. The pathological condition is typical only for newborns.

Bilirubin encephalopathy in premature babies can develop in two phases. The first is asphyxia. With her, the child sucks poorly, his posture is relaxed, the reaction even to weak stimuli is sharp, breathing is rare, stops for long periods. The newborn turns blue, wheezing is detected in the lungs when listening. Short-term convulsions begin, the longest muscle of the head and neck tenses. The face is mask-like, the eyes are wide open, frightened.

The first phase quickly enough passes into the next phase - spastic. It is characterized by a severe picture of damage to the nuclei of the brain: the newborn has a piercing cry, all the extensor muscles are tense, breathing is upset. Bilirubin encephalopathy is a very serious disease, so you need to know more about it in order to identify it in time.

Nuclear jaundice in newborns symptoms are acute, growing rapidly. In most cases, they are observed in the first 48 hours of a child's life after childbirth. Serious consequences are characteristic of bilirubin encephalopathy.

Typical symptoms of kernicterus:

• apnea (stopping breathing) for a short or long period. Respiratory disorder continues for a long time;
• involuntary movements (twitching) of the limbs, sometimes reaching convulsions. In the first year of life, the child may make uncoordinated involuntary movements, which may cause seizures to recur. By about 3 years of age, involuntary muscle contractions become permanent;
• hypertonicity or hypotension of the muscles on the limbs. You can recognize the symptom by the impossibility of unclenching the child's fist or stretching the legs;
• sharp involuntary tilting of the head back;
• mental and emotional disorders leading to 3 years of life to mental retardation;
• increase in body temperature;
• kernicterus is characterized by damage to the auditory and visual apparatus, which over time lead to deafness and blindness (if pathology is not detected at the very beginning),
• staining of the skin, eye sclera and mucous membranes in yellow bright color, discoloration of feces, staining of urine;
• an increase in the size of the liver and spleen (detected by palpation);
• drowsiness, which is replaced by screaming and strong crying. Lethargy or restlessness;
• strong protrusion of the fontanel.

neonatal jaundice

After birth, the child's body is still not sufficiently adapted and formed, many organs do not function to the full extent of their capabilities. This also applies to the liver, which filters the blood entering the body. In neonatal jaundice, the pathogenesis is as follows:

• enriched blood produces the breakdown of red blood cells;
• in the process of decay, bilirubin is formed - a toxic element that is excreted from the body after splitting in the liver;
• excess hemoglobin is not excreted due to the immaturity of the liver, lack of necessary enzymes, too high a concentration of bilirubin in the blood, or a number of other factors (for example, blockage of the bile ducts);
• long-term preservation high concentration bilirubin leads to toxic damage to a number of systems and organs (in particular, the brain).

Common causes of accumulation of a large amount of bilirubin in the blood of a child: prematurity, immaturity of liver cells, hyperproduction of bilirubin, low ability of blood serum to bind bilirubin. Protracted neonatal jaundice requires a differentiated diagnosis to identify the causes of high concentrations of bilirubin and methods for their elimination.

Obstructive jaundice

Obstructive jaundice - deposition in the mucous membranes and skin of the yellow pigment bilirubin, associated with difficult secretion of the pigment into the gallbladder and the flow of bile into the duodenum. Obstructive jaundice in most cases is associated with intrahepatic blockage of the bile ducts.

Intrahepatic obstruction and extrahepatic obstructive jaundice can be caused by hepatitis, drug exposure, and primary biliary cirrhosis. With intrahepatic obstructive jaundice, liver cells are damaged and the bile ducts become obstructed.

Risk factors for the occurrence of intrahepatic obstructive jaundice:

• narcotic substances or chemical toxins;
• estrogen or pregnancy;
• Dubin-Johnson syndrome;
• viral or chemical hepatitis;
• primary biliary cirrhosis;
• tumors (infiltrative).

The cause of extrahepatic obstructive jaundice can be an extrahepatic obstruction of the bile duct. Factors: tumor compression, presence congenital cyst common bile duct, extrahepatic biliary atresia, gallstones, postoperative inflammation, stenosis.

Specific symptoms of obstructive jaundice are quite pronounced. First of all, this is the pigmentation of the mucous membrane and skin: first, individual parts of the body, and then everything. With this type of jaundice, the skin tone is quite saturated lemon. It may also be observed severe pain(sometimes spasmodic) in the right hypochondrium and below. They are caused by the gallbladder trying to normalize the flow of bile that is not normally excreted from the organ.

As already mentioned, the defecation product is discolored, with particles of undigested food, with great content fat. At the same time, urine acquires a dark saturated color. The patient complains of headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, lack of appetite. If these symptoms are observed, you can big share likelihood of suspecting obstructive jaundice. In no case should these signs be ignored, since in most cases treatment is carried out in the form surgical intervention.

Jaundice in newborns

The most common type of jaundice in newborns is diagnosed 3-4 days after birth in approximately 60-70% of children. The condition is not dangerous and will go away on its own with time. The reason for such jaundice is the immaturity of the child's body systems, which are not able to process a large amount of bilirubin. In this case, other signs of jaundice in newborns are rarely observed - drowsiness, lazy sucking and vomiting are possible only with a very large amount of bilirubin in the blood.

How severe is physiological jaundice - the pediatrician must determine. The fact is that the intensity of external yellowness is not an indicator. You need an analysis for the level of direct bilirubin in the blood. Its maximum concentration is observed on the 3rd day of life. Usually, the child's body slowly copes with bilirubin, binding it with albumin (it prevents toxic effects).

If there is a lot of bilirubin, albumin is not able to fully neutralize its toxicity, which is why bilirubin enters the nervous system. This is a dangerous condition, since toxic effects on the brain are not excluded. Similar condition called "nuclear jaundice" or "bilirubin encephalopathy". Such postpartum jaundice in newborns is recognized by the symptoms: drowsiness, convulsions, weakening of the grasping reflex. Late manifestations are paralysis, deafness, mental retardation.

Previously, with an increase in the level of free bilirubin, intravenous infusions of a glucose solution were used, ascorbic acid, choleretic agents, phenobarbital. However, modern specialists are increasingly refusing such therapy: a number of studies around the world have confirmed its ineffectiveness. However, some domestic specialists still use these funds.

General characteristics of physiological jaundice:

• appears 2-3 days after birth;
• growth occurs on 3-4 days;
• extinction is observed on 7-10 days, complete disappearance - on 14-21 days;
• jaundice with an orange-orange tint;
• the general condition of the newborn is not disturbed;
• the liver and spleen are not enlarged;
• the color of feces and urine is not changed.

Pathological jaundice in newborns

Pathological jaundice in newborns in most cases manifests itself in the first 24 hours after birth. Often, there is an enlargement of the liver and spleen, discoloration of feces, darkening of urine, sometimes - spontaneous bruising on the body and pinpoint hemorrhages. A blood test reveals increased hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells) and anemia.

If there is incompatibility between the mother and the child according to the Rh factor or blood groups, there is increased hemolysis. Severe jaundice often occurs if the mother has the first blood group, and the child has the second or third. Each subsequent pregnancy may increase the risk of such complications. That is why it is extremely dangerous for women with a negative Rh factor to have abortions.

Types of jaundice in newborns:

• conjugative - occurs due to enzyme deficiency liver;
• hemolytic - associated with blood problems - for example, with a change in the structure of red blood cells or hemoglobin;
• hepatic - occurs when various diseases liver;
• obstructive (mechanical) - occurs when the natural outflow of bile is disturbed.

Conjugative jaundice develops when, for some reason, liver enzymes do not actively bind and process bilirubin to cells. Constitutional hepatic dysfunction (called "Gilbert-Meulengracht syndrome") - hereditary disease, very similar to physiological jaundice in newborns. Occurs quite often. Failure of the level of bilirubin in this case is associated with a violation of its processing due to a hereditary inferiority of the liver enzyme system. A newborn in this condition should be treated and observed for a long time by a gastroenterologist.

Hemolytic jaundice develops with a deficiency of erythrocyte enzymatic systems, with violations of the structure of hemoglobin. The destruction of erythrocytes is associated with a number of genetically determined disorders - for example, microspherocytosis (Minkowski-Choffard anemia), disorders of the structural part of hemoglobin (for example, sickle cell anemia), changes in the structure and shape of the erythrocyte, etc. For the treatment of conditions that are accompanied by the destruction of red blood cells, very often they resort to exchange blood transfusions - this allows you to remove antibodies and bilirubin that provoke hemolysis.

Parenchymal (hepatic) jaundice in newborns develops when the liver tissue is damaged by bacteria, viruses, toxins. Hepatitis B and C, sepsis, cytomegalovirus infection there is an accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, staining of the skin and mucous membranes in yellow with greenish tint, enlargement of the liver and spleen in size. The stool becomes whitish and the urine darkens.

The treatment of such jaundice in newborns is carried out in a complex manner, without fail providing an impact on the cause of the disease. Naturally, first of all, you need to level infectious process. However, now not for all types of infections it is possible to choose effective methods therapy. This is another factor why you need to responsibly prepare for pregnancy (especially if the expectant mother has infectious diseases).

Mechanical (obstructive) jaundice in newborns occurs when there is a violation of the outflow of bile. The main reason is a decrease in the patency of the bile ducts due to underdevelopment (atresia), malformations, neoplasms (including neoplasms of other organs). In some cases, the structure of bile changes - it becomes viscous and thick, thereby accumulating in the bile ducts. Due to their overcrowding, bile enters the bloodstream and provokes the symptoms of jaundice. It is impossible to treat such jaundice without surgery in most cases.

Jaundice in adults

Jaundice in adults is a fairly common disease, especially common in countries with poor sanitary conditions for the population and a hot climate. In Eastern Europe, the incidence of viral jaundice is 25 people per 100,000 people per year.

If we talk about the most common association (as already mentioned, people often associate jaundice only with hepatitis A) - this is a viral pathological process, accompanied by a violation of the liver and general intoxication organism.

Generally speaking, jaundice symptoms in adults have the following:

• yellowness of the skin;
• an increase in the size of the spleen and liver;
• an increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood;
• the appearance of a venous network in the abdomen.

One of the manifestations of jaundice in adults is severe itching, discoloration of urine and feces. The high content of bilirubin in the body leads to the fact that the feces become grayish, and the urine darkens significantly. The patient has loss of appetite, severe pain in the right hypochondrium, which has a pulling or spasmodic character.

How does jaundice manifest in adults?

If we consider the threat of infection with viral hepatitis A, the risk group may include relatives or those who have close constant contact with an infected person, people who have unprotected sexual contact with an infected person, people who are going to a country where the prevalence of this virus is very high. People who use drugs (especially intravenous) are also at risk.

How is jaundice transmitted from person to person?

Jaundice, as already noted, is characterized by the appearance of yellow pigmentation on the skin, eye sclera and mucous membranes. To determine the risk of the degree of contagious jaundice, all symptomatic types and modes of transmission should be considered in more detail.

You should start with the physiological jaundice mentioned above. It is provoked by improper functioning of the liver, a malfunction in the functionality of the bile ducts, leading to the ingestion of a large amount of bilirubin into the blood. Accordingly, it leads to a characteristic change in skin color. Such jaundice passes without complications and the appearance of its origin cannot be contagious.

To exclude her negative impact on the patient's body, it is recommended to follow a special diet for a certain time (refusal to use fatty, spicy, spicy food). Also recommended are sunbathing and taking medications prescribed by a doctor with a hematopoietic and choleretic effect. Those around the patient do not need to use special methods of protection - there is no risk to them.

Jaundice and hepatitis

Infectious or viral jaundice - contagious or not? If yellowing of the skin was provoked by a virus or infection, jaundice is associated with a rather serious disease - hepatitis. Hepatitis is divided into several types. Having understood them, you can determine the degree of danger of infection with jaundice.

Hepatitis A

They are classified as contagious diseases, and the risk of infection is quite high. Hepatitis A is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, mainly through contaminated food and water. This type of hepatitis can also be provoked intestinal infection in the process of reproduction of the virus in the liver cells with its further entry into the tissues of the patient's body. Incubation period hepatitis A virus - from 15 to 45 days.

During this time, the disease can proceed ambiguously: the exacerbation phase can be replaced by attenuation. Complications with this type of hepatitis - liver disease and nervous system. It is impossible for people who have recovered to become infected with hepatitis A again. Is jaundice contagious in adults in such cases? Yes, it's contagious. Particularly dangerous are places where a large number of people live without sufficient living conditions.

Hepatitis B

In most cases, it is transmitted parenterally - through contaminated needles during blood transfusion or injection with a common syringe (relevant among drug addicts). The development of hepatitis B is slow, the disease takes a long time, it can flow into a chronic form, which in turn increases the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver. The incubation period is very long - up to six months. Can hepatitis B jaundice be passed on to other people? Definitely with blood. infected person as well as sexually.

Hepatitis C

It is transmitted only by the parenteral route and is characterized by a course characteristic of hepatitis B. Rarely occurs in severe form - more often it passes into chronic condition, which can become a factor in the development of cirrhosis of the liver. The incubation period is from several days to 26 weeks. Is jaundice transmitted by airborne droplets with this form of hepatitis? No - only through the bloodstream, as well as unprotected sexual contact with an infected person.

Viral hepatitis also occurs in other variants - delta hepatitis, etc. All of these forms are also contagious and are transmitted by the fecal-oral route.

Is jaundice contagious in newborns?

Given the prevalence of jaundice in children after childbirth, the question is whether jaundice is transmitted in newborns? No, childhood jaundice is absolutely not contagious, since in most cases it is not the pathogen (as in hepatitis) that causes it, but the increased breakdown of red blood cells and the low functionality of the liver, which does not have time to process bilirubin secreted in large quantities.

Treatment

Patients who have suffered or are suffering from toxic liver damage, first of all, need to be provided with measures emergency care. Measures of this assistance provide for the immediate cessation of the processes of penetration of toxic substances into the patient's body. For these purposes, antidote therapy can be used. Also, emergency measures involve actions aimed at neutralizing and removing the toxin from the patient's body.

Patients with a mechanical form of the disease are administered no more than 1 ml of atropine sulfate solution with a concentration of 0.1%, or 1 ml of papaverine solution with a concentration of 2% to eliminate pain, which is pronounced.

Treatment of jaundice also involves hospitalization of the patient, especially if the disease is provoked by viral hepatitis. Measures to cure the disease are applied within the infectious, surgical or therapeutic hospital, depending on the form of the developing disease.

Medicines for jaundice

Treatment with Ursosan

Ursosan - medicine, created on the basis of ursodeoxycholic acid, which belongs to the natural and least cytotoxic constituents of bile acids. The drug is an effective hepatoprotector (improves the functionality of the liver).

The acid in the formulation binds toxic substances from the blood, processing them into safe micelles. It can strengthen the cells of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, biliary tract, protect them from toxic bilirubin by being incorporated into cell membranes. In addition, it will promote the development of liver cells and natural secretion bile acids to reduce the content of pathological bilirubin. The drug helps to reduce the level of cholesterol particles in the blood.

Ursosan contains magnesium stearate, corn starch, titanium dioxide and other excipients. On the full squad attention to avoid possible allergic reactions upon acceptance.

Ursosan for jaundice must be prescribed by the attending physician, based on diagnostic data (in particular, the level of bilirubin in the blood). Self-administration of dosage based on the instructions is prohibited!

Ursofalk for jaundice

The drug Ursofalk for newborns is produced in the form of suspensions of 250 ml. For older children, the manufacturer has provided the drug in the form of capsules. The kit always includes a 5 ml spoon (this daily dose for a newborn). If the doctor prescribes Ursofalk for neonatal jaundice, the dosage may be different - for example, 10 ml per 1 kg of weight. The drug is recommended for evening time, before bedtime.

• severe liver disease;
• dysfunction of the pancreas;
• violations of the kidneys;
• inflammation of the bile ducts.

The drug may cause side effects: in particular, insomnia, allergic reactions, excitement for no reason. Very rarely there is regurgitation and vomiting, sometimes the stool becomes more frequent. Incorrect dosage can lead to impaired liver function (this can only be determined after testing).

Diagnosis and treatment of jaundice in adults

The first signs of jaundice in adults are a signal that you need to see a doctor without delay. Modern medicine is able to completely restore the human body in almost any type of jaundice at the initial stage. To make a diagnosis, the patient is sent to the following types of studies:

• blood test (general and biochemical);
• analysis of the level of bilirubin in the blood;
• liver studies;
• liver biopsy - if previous diagnostic methods did not give an unambiguous result.

What is the treatment for jaundice in adults? The approach and technique depends on the form of jaundice and its stage. For the most effective therapy, it is important to accurately determine the cause of the development of jaundice. It is almost always possible to use conservative treatment(except obstructive jaundice) or surgery (from removing the cause of obstruction to liver transplantation).

In a set of measures to conservative therapy reception included antihistamines, steroids and other drugs, diet, plasmapheresis. The goal of treatment, for example, with viral hepatitis is to get rid of the virus, prevent the transition to the chronic phase and the development of cirrhosis of the liver, and remove the risk of infection of loved ones.

Nutrition for adult jaundice should be based on the use of proteins, B vitamins, iron: poultry meat, fish, eggs, dairy products. The diet should include grain bread and dried apricots. Detailed information about treatment and diet should be provided by the attending physician, based on diagnostic data. It is impossible to delay the disease and self-medicate - this can lead to the development severe consequences, from which only liver transplantation can save - a very expensive operation.

Treatment of jaundice in young children

Considering that many "adult" treatments cannot be applied to infants, phototherapy for neonatal jaundice is one of the most effective ways to deal with excess bilirubin. The second name of the technique is phototherapy.

Phototherapy is a physiotherapy procedure based on the therapeutic effect of ultraviolet rays that imitate sunlight with a wavelength of 400 to 550 nm. A light wave with these characteristics contributes to the conversion of bilirubin into an isomer, which the child's body can easily excrete along with feces. This will reduce the level of bilirubin in the blood and protect the body of the newborn from the toxic effects of the pigment.

How is phototherapy done for jaundice?

A completely undressed child should be placed in a box (cup), close his eyes with a special bandage or glasses (to protect against ultraviolet radiation), and also cover the genitals with an opaque cloth (for boys). As a bandage, you can use thick gauze in several layers.

A lamp for the treatment of neonatal jaundice is placed at a distance of about 50 cm from the child's body. It is most effective to use a combination of 4 ultraviolet lamps and 2 fluorescent lamps. Naturally, only a photolamp for the treatment of jaundice in newborns has a therapeutic effect. During the procedure, breaks of a maximum of 2-4 as in a row are allowed. However, if the increase in bilirubin is pronounced, light therapy should be continuous.

The average course duration is 96 hours. After every hour of irradiation, it is recommended to change the position of the newborn's body: lay on the back, on the stomach, on the side. Body temperature is taken every 2 hours to avoid overheating.

This is not about stopping breastfeeding- on the contrary, it must be continued, since mother's milk contributes to the rapid removal of bilirubin from the blood. Therefore, it is necessary to apply the newborn to the chest quite often, taking breaks in the physiotherapy. If for some reason the baby cannot be breastfed, the mother needs to express and feed the baby from a spoon or bottle. Phototherapy suggests that the daily amount of fluid needed by the newborn should be more physiological need by 10-20%.

Every day (at the risk of developing encephalopathy - every 6 hours) take the blood of a newborn for biochemical analysis to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Indications for phototherapy

The phototherapeutic irradiator for the treatment of neonatal jaundice is recommended for:

• the risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia detected during pregnancy;
• morphofunctional immaturity of the newborn;
• the presence of extensive hemorrhages and hematomas;
• a complex of resuscitation measures;
• physiological jaundice;
• hemolytic disease with incompatibility with the mother's blood type;
• an increase in bilirubin above 5 µmol / l per hour (for full-term newborns) or 4 µmol / l per hour (for premature infants).

Indications for phototherapy in the first 7 days of life depending on the level of bilirubin and weight: less than 1.5 kg of weight, 85-140 µmol / l bilirubin, 2 kg and 140-200 µmol / l, 2.5 kg and 190-240 µmol / l, more than 2.5 kg and 255-295 µmol / l.

Phototherapy is stopped if there is a decrease in the level total bilirubin in the blood, and the level of free bilirubin does not increase. The therapeutic procedure in this case is considered completed and successful.

It is important to list the contraindications for phototherapy: high content bound bilirubin, impaired liver function, obstructive jaundice. It is also necessary to know that a lamp for neonatal jaundice can provoke the appearance of a number of adverse reactions, which do not affect general condition newborn. These are, in particular: dryness and peeling of the skin, frequent stools, drowsiness, allergic rash, staining of the skin in a bronze color.

Glucose for jaundice in infants

According to modern medical statistics, physiological jaundice is diagnosed in 60% of newborn babies. main reason- Exceeding the concentration in the child's blood of a pigment called bilirubin. Jaundice in most cases manifests itself on the 2-3rd day of life in the form of a characteristic staining of the skin and mucous membranes, disappears by itself on the 7-10th day.

Is it necessary to apply and how to give glucose to a newborn with jaundice in such situations? This question is rather controversial. Transient jaundice, not accompanied by health problems, does not need treatment. However, if signs of intoxication (lethargy, weight loss) are noticeable, specific therapy is critical. Together with the drug, domestic pediatricians prescribe 5% glucose for newborns.

If we take into account the opinion of doctors from the American Academy of Pediatrics, they say that 5 percent glucose for newborns with jaundice is not able to reduce the content of bilirubin in the blood. US pediatricians claim that the best prevention and one of the ways to treat jaundice (in combination with others) is frequent attachment of the newborn to the breast. Colostrum and first milk are able to activate the processes of removing bilirubin from the body. At the same time, the addition of glucose, according to American pediatricians, can provoke stool retention, thereby only exacerbating the problem.

Ultimately, you should trust your doctor - he can prescribe glucose intake based on diagnostic data and the general health of the newborn.

Many people ask: what is jaundice, why is it dangerous for humans? A large number of people consider the manifestations of jaundice a sign of hepatitis or Botkin's syndrome. Experts say that this disease can occur for other reasons.

During jaundice, the skin and whites of the eyes become yellowish.

How does jaundice manifest?

The first signs of jaundice in adults very often stain the skin, whites of the eyes and mucous membranes in a yellowish tint. This is usually due to the large volume of accumulated bilirubin, which must be released at the time of the breakdown of red blood cells in the spleen. After that, it enters the liver and after all the processes is completely removed from the human body. If this process is disturbed, this substance will accumulate in the blood of a sick person, which will lead to a change in the color of the eyes and mucous membranes.

At the time of the breakdown of blood cells, the human body produces a yellow pigment that must come out with daily stools. At the time of manifestation of jaundice, people note liver failure and violation of its patency. At this point, bilirubin remains in the blood, which is able to exit in small volumes through the skin and kidneys.

This disease is considered the most common in the world. In the people, the disease is called hepatitis A or Botkin's disease. It refers to viral origin, which entails poisoning of the whole organism, as well as impaired liver function.

Types of jaundice

In medicine, there are several types of jaundice caused by various diseases:

• hepatitis B and C;
• autoimmune;
• mononucleosis;
• toxic;
• bacterial;
• medicinal.

Also, experts use another classification of the disease, which affects the place of its occurrence and shade. Doctors distinguish three classes of jaundice in adults:

• suprahepatic, which manifests itself in blood diseases;
• parenchymal, which develops due to disruption of the liver;
• mechanical, associated with the problems of removing bilirubin from the human body.

For these groups with symptoms of jaundice, specific shades of the skin are determined:

Yellowish skin color indicates the process of breakdown of blood cells

• a yellowish color with a red tint is characteristic of a disease associated with the liver;
• a yellowish color with a lemon tint characterizes the process of disintegration of blood cells, as in the photo;
• dark greenish color indicates problems with the biliary tract.

The incubation period can very often last for a couple of months. The severity of the disease will depend on this, its chronic consequences and duration.

Diseases that cause jaundice

In order to correctly establish the diagnosis, experts establish the real cause of jaundice and its stage.

Prehepatic jaundice in adults is associated with the process of disintegration of blood cells - erythrocytes. This contributes to an increase in the amount of bilirubin in the circulatory system. The liver cannot cope with such a large amount of the substance, which soon leads to human intoxication.

The main diseases that cause jaundice in an adult are hemolytic anemia, thalassemia and so on.

The hepatic form of the disease is characterized by the destruction of liver cells and its capillaries. At the time of decay in the circulatory system, the volume of bilirubin greatly increases.

The occurrence of hepatic jaundice contribute to:

• viral hepatitis with acute and chronic form;
• hepatitis with different etiologies;
• changes in the liver associated with chronic intoxication with alcohol, drugs and various toxins;
• mononucleosis caused by infection;
• Gilbert's disease;
• leptospirosis;
• liver cancer;
• autoimmune syndrome, which is aimed at the destruction of liver cells.

Such jaundice in adults is associated with the causes of the release of bile from the liver ducts. Such a violation indicates the presence of an obstacle in the form of blockage or obturation.

Signs of the disease

The first symptoms of jaundice in an adult can be in the form of:

• yellow skin tone;
• enlarged liver and spleen;
• increase in the volume of red blood cells in the circulatory system;
• manifestation of the venous network on the abdomen.

In humans, symptoms of acute jaundice can manifest as severe itching, discoloration of urine and feces. Due to the high volume of bilirubin, feces can turn gray and urine is dark in color. The patient noted a decrease in appetite, the occurrence of pain in the area of ​​the hypochondrium on the right side. Pain syndrome may be expressed in the form of spasms or will have a pulling character.

A sick person may experience severe chills, fever and a feverish state. In such cases, a person with jaundice is able to lose most of their body weight.

Jaundice can be caused by a variety of factors.

Causes

In medicine, there are a large number of factors that can affect the appearance of jaundice, various symptoms in an adult may indicate:

The threat of infection with jaundice threatens people:

• whose loved ones are infected with this disease;
• who had sexual contact with infected persons;
• visiting regions with high level the prevalence of this disease;
• with drug addiction.

Disease of the biliary tract and its symptoms

Diseases associated with the gallbladder entail the onset of symptoms of severe mechanical jaundice. It is characterized by a violation of the excretion of bile into the intestine. Such a malfunction may be associated with cholelithiasis, oncological neoplasms, problems with the pancreas, as well as human worms and much more.

Obstructive jaundice is characterized by an increase in body temperature, large areas of combed skin. Human feces have a colorless tint, while urine, on the contrary, is colored in dark tones. In a sick person, experts note increased bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, or prolonged constipation. Often these symptoms are caused by malignant neoplasm. In most cases, it occurs in the elderly.

Signs of the disease in pregnant women

Most girls do not know: why is jaundice dangerous during pregnancy? Experts note that in women in an interesting position, jaundice can cause severe heartburn, skin itching and bouts of nausea. In such cases, doctors distinguish a mild and moderate form. H Most often, this disease occurs in girls with their first child.

Pathogenesis can be of two types. In the first case, in the expectant mother, the first signs of jaundice may appear in the first or second month of pregnancy. At this point, the symptoms are:

Jaundice is dangerous for pregnant women

• decrease or complete absence appetite
• bouts of severe nausea;
• severe heartburn;
• vomiting reflex;
• sudden loss of body weight.

In this case this disease manifests itself in the form of renal failure or abnormal liver function.

Jaundice in adults during pregnancy is one of the most dangerous diseases. Since at this moment a large amount of fluid accumulates in the serous compartment, which causes severe swelling, bleeding, and even death of the child.

Any form of illness during childbearing must be detected in time.

After all medical examinations, the specialist will be able to prescribe the correct and necessary treatment, regardless of what month the future woman in labor is.

Features of the disease in old age

In old age, this disease can appear in the most acute form and proceed with particular severity. Jaundice manifests itself for a long time, which adversely affects the body of a person over 60 years old. Experts point out that the severe symptoms diseases can lead to a sick patient's death. Scientists have noted that for one thousand people there are about 27 deaths. In most cases, an elderly person dies of kidney failure.

Duration of illness

Sick patients often ask themselves: how long does the disease last, what drugs should be taken? Experts note that in most cases, jaundice lasts from one to two months. But in some situations, the duration of the disease may increase indefinitely. Jaundice itself appears within forty days. At the same time, in sick patients, all the signs of the onset of the disease are noted.

The recovery of a person depends on his immunity, the stage and severity of the disease. It happens that most patients recover after 6-9 months without taking medication.

Diagnosis of the disease

With jaundice, there is pain in the right hypochondrium

At the initial stage of the development of the disease, a person may not notice how the first signs of jaundice appear. Very often, the patient seeks help from specialists at the time of the onset of a yellowish tint of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Also patients note pain in the hypochondrium, located on the right side. violated normal work digestion.

In such cases, specialists primarily conduct medical research, collect all the patient's medical history, and also study the anamnesis. After that, the period of development of the disease, changes in the human body are established. Pay attention to whether itching of the skin is present, its characteristics and how long it lasts.

The doctor needs to know if there was poisoning with alcohol or any medications, if the sick person had a surgical intervention in the gallbladder or liver.

Conclusion

Experts recommend once a year to undergo a mandatory medical examination, which can detect changes in the body or notice an increase in bilirubin levels. If you have the first symptoms this disease need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Only a doctor will be able to identify the stage and severity of the disease and prescribe necessary tests. After that, the specialist will prescribe correct treatment with the help of drugs or prescribe urgent surgical intervention.

In order to identify the disease, the specialist will prescribe an anamnesis that can take into account a large number of factors that affect the occurrence of jaundice. Starting from a blood transfusion and ending with ear piercing for earrings.

Do not delay visiting your doctor and wait until the first sign of the disease appears. After all, only he can correctly assess the situation and save a person from various chronic forms of the disease.

Video

Symptoms of jaundice in adults.