Is your skin turning yellow too? Let's learn about jaundice in adults!

Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed that the whites of your eyes and skin are a little yellow? Or has a friend or family member told you something like that? This condition is what we call jaundice in medical science. This is not just another thing, but an important signal that gives us about some problem inside our body. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of this and not to be afraid of it.

What exactly is jaundice? Why does the body turn yellow?

To understand this, let's go inside our bodies a little. It's very simple.

The red blood cells in our bodies have a certain lifespan. These old red blood cells are constantly broken down and replaced by new ones. This is a process that occurs regularly in the body of a healthy person.

Imagine, when these old red blood cells break down, a yellow pigment called bilirubin is produced. This is not something our body needs. So, the liver, an amazing organ in our body, takes this bilirubin, cleans it, and prepares it for excretion by combining it with bile, a digestive fluid.

This extra bilirubin that the liver cannot clean builds up in our blood. We call this ``Hyperbilirubinemia''. When the bilirubin level in the blood increases, it gradually leaks into our tissues, especially the skin and the whites of the eyes. That's why we see this yellow color. Do you understand?

What are the main causes of jaundice?

Jaundice can occur if there is a problem anywhere in the bilirubin pathway that we discussed earlier. Accordingly, we divide the causes of this into three main categories. Although this is a bit medical, let's try to understand it simply.

What other symptoms come with jaundice?

In addition to turning yellow, you may also have these symptoms, depending on the cause of the jaundice.

• Dark urine: Urine that is the color of tea water.
• Pale stools: Stools that are clay-colored, pale in color, rather than the normal brown color.
• Itching: You may itch intensely all over your body.
• Fever and chills.
• Stomach ache.
• Tiredness, fatigue, and mental confusion.
• Severe loss of appetite and weight loss.
• Vomiting and nausea.

If you have jaundice along with one or more of these symptoms, it is very important to seek medical advice immediately .

How exactly does the doctor find this?

When you go to see a doctor, he will first ask you a detailed question about your symptoms. Then he will do a physical examination, especially palpating your liver (the upper right side of your abdomen).

In addition, tests like these can be done to find the exact cause:

• Blood tests: These can check the level of bilirubin in the blood, what type it is (conjugated or unconjugated), and the status of liver enzymes.
• Imaging Scans: An ultrasound scan or CT scan may be done to look at the condition of the liver, gallbladder, and surrounding organs.
• Liver Biopsy: In some cases, a very small piece of liver tissue is taken from the liver using a very small needle to accurately diagnose liver disease. Don't worry, this is only done if absolutely necessary.

How is it treated? Can it be prevented?

The most important thing here is that jaundice is not a disease, but a symptom .

For example:

• If the jaundice is caused by gallstones, those stones need to be removed.
• If it is caused by the hepatitis virus, appropriate treatment should be given.
• If the liver has been damaged by alcohol, you will have to stop drinking alcohol completely.

For discomforts like itching, the doctor will prescribe separate medications.

Can it be prevented?

Since jaundice has many causes, it's difficult to prevent it in one way. However, the following can help keep your liver healthy:

• Get vaccinated against hepatitis. There are vaccines specifically for Hepatitis A and B.
• Limit or stop drinking alcohol completely.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Control your cholesterol levels .
• Take care of cleanliness. Things like washing your hands thoroughly with soap can help protect you from diseases like hepatitis A.
• Do not take any medications, especially Ayurvedic or herbal products, without medical advice. Some of them can be harmful to the liver.

Do young children get jaundice?

Yes, jaundice is very common among newborn babies. This is because their livers are not yet fully developed and cannot properly remove bilirubin. Most of the time, this gets better on its own within a few days. Sometimes, a light treatment called phototherapy is needed.

Jaundice, Jaundice in adults Sinhala, Liver diseases, Bilirubin, Yellowing of the eyes, Yellowing of the skin, Hyperbilirubinemia