Jaundice means yellow discoloration of body and sclera(white part in the eye). The yellow colour in the eye is due to pigment named bilirubin which binds to proteins in our skin and eye.
What is bilirubin?
Bilirubin is a product of hemoglobin break up. The bilirubin than gets modified in the liver and then it is excreted in urine and stool after some additional modifications.
So in general when bilirubin rises it can be due to diseases in hemoglobin breakdown or liver or on the path from the liver to intestines.
What are the types of bilirubin?
Direct and indirect are the two most common types described. Indirect bilirubin rises in diseases of hemoglobin breakdown. The direct bilirubin rises in diseases of liver and path from the liver to bile duct and intestines.
One need to consult a gastroenterologist or hepatologist if there is jaundice.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis means inflammation or swelling in the liver. Most common causes of this in India are viral hepatitis. This can be hepatitis A,B,C,D OR E.Hepatitis A and E are water-borne diseases and are transmitted through contaminated water or food.
Most cases of infective or viral hepatitis A and E are not serious and can be treated by primary care physicians. However, some cases require special care and even liver transplantation if there is severe liver damage. It is important to pick up such patients by proper monitoring of liver function test under a physicians’ guidance.
What is obstructive jaundice?
Jaundice when occurs due to a blockage in the path from the liver to intestines then it is called obstructive jaundice. Commonly it presents with symptoms of itching along with yellow eyes. Proper diagnosis and treatment in such cases become mandatory as it may suggest sometimes serious diseases like cancer of bile ductal system or pancreas.
ERCP and EUS are normally used in the evaluation of these patients along with CT scan and MRCP on case to case basis.
