Jaundice

Jaundice is a symptom of liver disease, manifesting as a yellowish discoloration of urine and eyes. Diagnosis is confirmed by performing liver function tests (blood test).

Causes of this condition include:

Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia

• Hemolysis
• Gilbert syndrome
  
  

Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia– is due to the liver diseases which can either be liver inflammation or obstruction in biliary system of the liver.

Liver inflammation

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Hepatitis E
• Alcoholic hepatitis
• Wilson Disease (Excessive copper in liver)
• Hemochromatosis (Excessive iron in liver)
• Autoimmune hepatitis

Obstruction in biliary system of liver

• Stone in common bile duct
• Tumor of gall bladder, pancreas, and CBD causing CBD obstruction
• Worm in CBD
• Enlarged lymph nodes compressing CBD

Various tests are conducted to determine the cause of jaundice, including:

• LFT
• Viral markers
• USG Abdomen
• CECT Abdomen and MRCP

Treatment of jaundice depends upon the cause of jaundice and includes

• Antiviral medication
• Stopping alcohol
• Steroids for autoimmune hepatitis
• Copper and iron chelation for wilson disease and hemochromatosis respectively
• ERCP to remove the CBD stone or stent placement to bypass biliary obstruction due to tumor