Probably, many are familiar with such a term as jaundice, the signs in children and adults of which are the staining of the skin and mucous membranes in a yellowish color. This process is due to the accumulation in the tissues of the pigment - bilirubin. Jaundice is still not a separate disease, it is rather a sign or a kind of signal that something “abnormal” is happening in the body. And it is always scary when a similar phenomenon occurs in a small child. So what is hidden under the term "jaundice"? How is she treated? What are the signs of jaundice in children and adults?
What is bilirubin?
Before delving into the essence of this yellow syndrome, you need to understand what bilirubin is. Simply put, it is a coloring bile pigment, which is a breakdown product of hemoglobin. In the normal state, bilirubin accumulates in the digestive tract, and then is excreted from the body naturally, that is, through the feces. But if a person has an unhe althy condition in which this pigment is not excreted and begins to accumulate in the blood, his skin and sclera become yellowish.
Bilirubin: normal
Normal bilirubin levels inhe althy people are as follows:
- Total - up to 20.5 µmol/l.
- Direct - up to 5.1 µmol/l.
- Free - up to 16.2 µmol/l.
It is worth noting that bilirubin is an extremely dangerous compound. It is very toxic to our body. Its significant excess has a negative impact on human he alth. An excess of bilirubin leads to intoxication of the whole organism and to malfunctions of organs. This exposure is especially dangerous for newborns.
Jaundice types and main causes
The symptom of jaundice itself develops only in three cases:
- Firstly, if bilirubin is produced in excess.
- Secondly, if the processing of this enzyme is disrupted.
- And, thirdly, if its excretion is disturbed.
Based on these three cases, there are three forms of jaundice:
Suprahepatic. In this case, excessive formation of bilirubin occurs due to increased breakdown of red blood cells, and the liver simply does not have time to process it
Suprahepatic jaundice develops with the following diseases and certain causes:
- Anemia in children.
- Sepsis, malaria, typhoid.
- Endocarditis.
- Parasites in the blood.
- Donor product incompatibility.
- Extensive hematomas.
- Malignant formations of hematopoietic tissue.
- Lepatic. This form of jaundice is associated with the destruction of liver cells. She is simply not able to capture bilirubin, as a result of which both direct and free pigment in the blood is increased. diseases,accompanied by hepatic jaundice are varied, but the most common are viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.
- Subhepatic. This form occurs when the function of the outflow of bile is impaired. The reason in this case may be blockage of the biliary tract by stones or parasites, or compression by various formations: cysts or tumors.
There is also the so-called false jaundice, which appears as a result of eating foods with a lot of keratin. Similar signs of jaundice in children (1 year - 2.5 years) occur if the baby eats a lot of carrots, pumpkins or oranges.
First signs of jaundice in children
Each form of this syndrome has its own specific symptoms. Signs of jaundice in children at 3 years old differ little from adults. But in a child, jaundice most often occurs against the background of hepatitis. To prevent children from getting sick with this disease, compulsory vaccination is carried out in our country. And now we will analyze the symptoms for each form, and consider the signs of jaundice in a child (2 years and older).
You can understand that the baby has suprahepatic jaundice by the following indicators:
- Increased indirect bilirubin in the blood.
- Skin, sclera and mucous membranes turn yellow with moderate pallor.
- Feces also change color, it becomes dark brown.
- The liver and spleen increase in size. There may be pain in the left hypochondrium.
- Temperature increase.
- Whims, headache, increasedfatigue and palpitations in the child.
For the second form of jaundice (hepatic) the following symptoms are characteristic:
- Bright orange shade of skin and mucous membranes.
- Enlarged liver and spleen.
- Chills and fever.
- Lack of appetite in baby.
- Nausea, headache.
- Apathy.
- Possible nosebleeds.
- Diarrhea.
You can identify this form of jaundice by the following features:
- Dark colored urine with foam.
- Colorless feces with lots of fatty acids.
- Elevated bilirubin, blood cholesterol.
Jaundice in a newborn
Approximately 60% of all newborns show a specific skin color on average by day 3. Jaundice in infants is called physiological, since it does not signal any disease, but speaks of a period of adaptation. This phenomenon is temporary and lasts no more than 10 days. So why does it occur and what are the main signs of jaundice in a newborn baby?
The fact is that when a baby is in the womb, he has blood with a special hemoglobin that carries oxygen to the organs. When the baby begins to breathe with his lungs, his blood composition changes, special hemoglobin is destroyed and “alive” is formed. This is where an excess of bilirubin appears, and a small body is not yet able to cope with it, so jaundice appears. Signs in young children of this syndrome are expressed onlyyellowness of the sclera and skin, but otherwise the baby is in a completely normal condition. Liver and spleen of normal size. In newborns, jaundice is not treated with medication, as the liver restores its function on its own.
Treatment
The treatment of jaundice comes down to determining the causes that caused it. For example, suprahepatic jaundice, the symptoms of which in children have been described above, is treated by stopping the breakdown of red blood cells. If jaundice is caused by the destruction of the liver, then drugs are used that can restore it. In the case of viral hepatitis, antiviral drugs are prescribed. For more severe diseases, a liver transplant is possible. And subhepatic jaundice, the signs of which in children have been described above, is treated only surgically.
Nutrition for jaundice
When treating the disease that caused jaundice, be sure to follow a certain diet. The essence of the principle of nutrition will be to reduce the load on the liver and cleanse the bile ducts. Here is a list of foods to avoid while sick:
- Any broths and soups (fish, meat, chicken, mushroom).
- Any pickles, as well as pickled foods and canned food.
- Chocolate and all products that contain cocoa.
- Smoked meats and deli meats.
- Cold drinks and ice cream.
- Spices and seasonings.
- Mushrooms.
- Muffin buns and freshbread.
- Fruits and berries with sourness.
- Eggs (any).
- Beans
- From vegetables: radish, radish and spinach.
- Alcohol.
- Strong coffee and tea.
- And, of course, fatty and fried foods.
Yes, the list is impressive! Any violation can aggravate the situation, so you need to strictly adhere to this diet. After jaundice, you will have to eat like this for about 2 more weeks, otherwise there is a high risk of a relapse of the disease.
Probably, at first glance, it will seem to many that you will have to go hungry at all. But it's not. There is a list of allowed products from which it is quite possible to make a daily diet:
- All low fat dairy products.
- All cereals, pasta and vegetable dishes.
- Boiled meat (any).
- Yesterday's bread.
- Fruits.
- Butter (butter, sunflower).
- Weak tea and vegetable juice.
And finally, the food should be fresh and warm. Your doctor will help you build a nutrition plan, depending on the severity of the disease.
Preventive measures
The simplest and most basic preventive method is to follow the rules of personal hygiene for both your own and your child. Particular attention should be paid to the purity of food. That is, all vegetables and fruits must be thoroughly washed. Be sure to teach your child to wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet. It is also necessary to avoid contact with other people's personal belongings, for example, notuse someone else's razor, comb, toothbrush, nail scissors. Biological products of a sick person may remain on these things. Drink only boiled water. Try not to eat in street cafes. You can also become infected with the disease through some procedures, for example, piercing, manicure, pedicure, tattooing. Therefore, carry out these manipulations only in proven salons that have the appropriate certificates. And the surest and most effective way of prevention is vaccination.
Conclusion
The liver is a kind of filter in our body, it absorbs everything unnecessary and harmful. And when its function is impaired, the body is attacked by toxins and other harmful substances. If you find outward signs of jaundice in a child or in yourself, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Timely treatment will always ensure recovery. Don't get sick!
