Jaundice

Jaundice

• 1.
  JAUNDICE Jaundice is ayellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes caused by abnormally high levels of the pigment bilirubin in the bloodstream
• 2.
  CAUSES: • High levelsof bilirubin in the blood may result from the problems originate either within the liver or outside the liver. • Damage to the liver due to inflammation or scarring can impair its ability to excrete bilirubin into bile. • Alternatively, the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the small intestine may be blocked by a gallstone or a tumor. • Less commonly, overproduction of bilirubin, due to excessive breakdown of RBC’S, can cause the liver to produce more bilirubin than the liver can process. • Overproduction is most common in newborns with jaundice
• 3.
  • SYMPTOMS: • Injaundice, the skin and whites of the eyes appear yellow. • Urine is often dark due to excess bilirubin is excreted through the kidneys. • People may have itching, light colored stools. • Ex.Acute inflammation of liver (acute hepatitis) may cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and fever. • Blockage of bile may result in abdominal pain and fever.
• 4.
  DIAGNOSIS ANDTREATMENT • Laboratorytests and undertaken and imaging studies are done to determine the cause of jaundice. • If the problem is a disease of liver , the jaundice usually disappears gradually as the condition of the liver increases. • If the problem is blockage of bile duct, surgery or surgical endoscopy is performed. • Itching caused by jaundice can be treated with cholestyramine.
• 5.
  HEPATITIS • Hepatitis isa disease that affects liver causing it to swell and become inflamed. • Common causes of hepatitis include some viruses that can damage liver cells, causing scar tissue to form and to prevent them from functioning . • Hepetitis is of four types: • 1. Hepatitis A • 2. Hepatitis C • 3. Hepatitis D • 4. Hepatitis E
• 6.
  Hepatitis A • Itis the least threatening among the various forms of hepatitis, as it does not lead to chronic liver disease. • Hepatitis A is mild illness, lasting one to two weeks, and rarely becomes serious. • Hepatitis AVirus (HAV) causes temporary liver inflammation and is transmitted from contaminated food and water. • Most HAV infections don’t have symptoms and are mild without jaundice.
• 7.
  • HAV Spread: •It spreads by the fecal-oral route, i.e., through contaminated water or food with virus or by sewage or by food handlers who do not wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom. • Eating raw or partially cooked shellfish from water containing raw sewages will cause outbreaks of HAV.
• 8.
  Symptoms: • Adults mayhave dark urine and light stools, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever. • Children's usually don’t have symptoms. • Full recovery takes up to six months and all symptoms disappear.
• 9.
  Prevention: • The hepatitisA vaccine is given to people to an age of 2 or older. • The vaccine is recommended for those who live in sanitary conditions, homosexual men, IV drug users, people infected with hepatitis B orC viruses and people who receive blood products, such as haemophiliacs. • Wash hands with soap and water after using the bathroom. • Use bleach to clean surfaces that have been contaminated by feces.
• 10.
  Diagnosis: • Infection isconfirmed with a blood test that determines the IgM antibody to the hepatitis A virus.
• 11.
  Treatment: • There isno treatment, although immune globulin can provide temporary immunity to the virus for up to three months before exposure and two weeks after exposure.
• 12.
  Vaccination: • The vaccineis recommended for day care center employees, laboratory workers who handle fecal specimens. • For adults, a complete course of hepatitis A vaccine consists of two intra- muscular injections given six to 12 months apart. • For children, ages 2 to 18, three injections are suggested: the first two are given one month apart, the third, and six to 12 months after the first.