Jaundice is symptom of liver disease, which manifest as yellowish discoloration of urine and eyes. Diagnosis is confirmed by performing liver function test (blood test).
Causes of jaundice are:
Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia
- Hemolysis
- Gilbert syndrome
Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia – 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
Workup
Following tests are done to know the cause of jaundice:
- LFT
- Viral markers
- USG Abdomen
- CECT Abdomen and MRCP
Treatment
- 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
Dr. Kapil Sharma
MBBS, MD, DM Gastroenterology
Director and Head Gastroenterology Batra Hospital and Medical research centre, New Delhi.
He had more than 15 years of experience in field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
As a committed doctor, he had undergone advance endoscopic training in endoscopic ultrasound and third space endoscopy. Now he is amongst few Gastroenterologist across the country who do interventional endoscopic ultrasound and per oral endoscopic myotomy.