It is very common liver disorder. Liver is vital organ of our body. It helps to breakdown the food which we consume and it is also responsible for the removal of toxins from body. Nowadays liver problems are increasing day by day due to change in lifestyle, change in eating habits, increase in consumption of alcohol and excessive intake of medicines.
What Is Jaundice?
Jaundice is also known as Icterus. It may occur at any age include infants, adults. In this condition, the skin turns to yellow color and the white parts of eye is also turned to yellow. It is due to the results of an increase in bile pigments and bilirubin in blood.
Symptoms Of Jaundice
SOME COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF JAUNDICE INCLUDE:
Yellowish discoloration of skin and white part of eye.
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Fatigue
Indigestion
Drowsiness
Burning sensation in body
Common Causes Of Jaundice
SOME COMMON CAUSES OF JAUNDICE ARE MENTIONED BELOW:
Inflammation of liver (known as hepatitis).
Excessive circulation of bile pigments in blood.
Excessive destruction of red blood cells.
Impairment of liver function.
Viral infection.
Some other disease condition like malaria, tuberculosis.
Ayurvedic View
In Ayurveda, Jaundice is known as Kamala. As per ayurveda, our body is maintained by three essential energies named as vata, pitta and kapha. Disturbance in any of three energies results in problem in body. Aggravation of pitta cause liver disturbances. Ayurveda considers deformity of Ranjak pitta (a sub type of pitta) responsible for Jaundice.
Complications Associated With Jaundice
Hyper bilirubinemia or excess of bilirubin in blood that may cause accumulation of bilirubin in central nervous system which results in neurological damage leads to condition called Kernicterus. It depends upon the level of exposure, range from clinically unnoticeable to severe brain damage and sometimes even death may occur.
Diagnosis And Tests
Physical examination
Blood test - It helps to check the level of bilirubin in blood.
Skin test - It is done with the help of device called transcutaneous bilirubinometer.