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- What is jaundice?
- Symptoms of jaundice
- Causes of jaundice
- Prevention of jaundice
- Risk factors for jaundice
- Complications of jaundice
- When to see a doctor about jaundice
- Diagnosis of jaundice
- Conventional treatment of jaundice
- Alternative/complementary treatment of jaundice
- Living with jaundice
- Caring for someone with jaundice
Jaundice is a symptom, caused by various diseases, which makes the skin, mucous membranes and the eyes a yellow colour.
The yellow colour is caused by a substance in red blood cells called bilirubin (which comes from old red blood cells that have completed their life cycle and are supposed to be recycled in the liver ands delivered to the bile to be reused as bile fluid, but which instead travels to various tissues to discolour them).
The reason that jaundice may have is due to the following:
- too much bilirubin is produced than the liver can adequately destroy or recycle
- a defect of the liver causing an inability to destroy or recycle bilirubin
- blockages of the bile ducts
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Facts about jaundice
- About 50% of all new born babies will get jaundice in the day or within a week after they are born, but it usually goes away within a week of its onset
- Jaundice that occurs within the first 24 hours of birth or after one week of birth is not normal and needs to be investigated
- All newborn babies are normally tested for jaundice every 8-12 hours for the first day of their life
- All newborn babies are recommended to have a follow-up appointment within 2-3 days of leaving the hospital to test bilirubin levels, especially for premature babies
- Premature babies are more likely to have jaundice than normal term babies
- Infection of the liver is one of the most common reasons people get jaundice
- Two of the most common health conditions which cause jaundice are - hepatitis and malaria
- One of the most prominent and obvious signs of jaundice is yellowing of the skin and of the whites of the eyes
- Jaundice can lead to brain damage in babies if it is not treated properly
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Last reviewed: 29 January 2009 || Last updated: 21 December 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
