By Dr Anurag Shetty 

Mangaluru, Nov 20: Jaundice is the yellowish discoloration of eyes and skin. This happens due to the increase in the bilirubin levels in the blood. With the recent increase in jaundice due to the spurt in acute hepatitis cases being reported it is important to know a few things about jaundice.

Jaundice is a major symptom of liver diseases- However jaundice could be caused due to diseases other than liver diseases such as due to increase in Red blood cell destruction, Genetic problems in the metabolism of bilirubin, obstruction to bile duct due to stones and tumours. Among liver diseases hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) is the main cause of jaundice which could be infective (hepatitis A, B, C, E) or non-infective. Also chronic liver diseases like cirrhosis of the liver can lead to jaundice. Another common cause of liver jaundice could be because of the tumours in the liver or spread of cancer to liver.

Jaundice may be associated with other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, weakness, decreased appetite, pain in the tummy, itching, dark coloured urine, swelling of the legs, tummy etc. which can give clues to the cause of jaundice. Jaundice can be self-limiting or life threatening depending on the cause of jaundice.

Whenever symptoms of jaundice are seen instead of starting on home medicines or alternative medicines it is necessary to consult your doctor to find out the exact cause of jaundice because certain jaundice can be life threatening. Patients will require simple blood tests and scanning to delineate the cause of jaundice as the treatment for jaundice varies according to the disease that lead to jaundice.

During treatment of jaundice it is very important to take nutritious and easily digestible food rich in carbohydrates and proteins because liver requires extra energy to heal. Unnecessary and unscientific dietary restrictions might slow down the recovery of liver.

Dr Anurag Shetty, Medical Gastroenterology, KMC Hospital Dr B R Ambedkar Circle, Mangaluru.