Jaundice in Indianapolis, IN
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Find a ProviderWhat is jaundice?
Although jaundice is most commonly found in newborn babies, it can occur in adults as well. This condition causes the skin and the whites of the eyes to become a yellow shade. This is due to excess amounts of bilirubin, a yellowish compound in the liver. Although the condition frequently doesn’t require treatment, it’s vital to talk to an experienced GI provider at Indianapolis Gastroenterology and Hepatology if you notice your eyes or skin developing a yellow shade, because the root cause might require treatment. To learn more info about treating jaundice in Indianapolis, IN, contact our team to request a consultation today.
What causes jaundice?
Jaundice occurs when an individual has excess amounts of bilirubin, an orange-yellow pigment formed in the liver during the destruction RBCs (red blood cells). The exact reason for jaundice varies, depending on if it takes place prior to production, during the process, or after the production of bilirubin.
Reasons for jaundice before the production of bilirubin (unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia) are:
- Hemolytic anemias (red blood cells are broken down faster than at the end of their normal lifespan)
- Reabsorption of a blood suffusion (clotted blood outside the blood vessel)
Reasons for jaundice throughout the production of bilirubin are:
- Alcohol use
- Hepatitis A, B, or C
- Autoimmune disorders
- Epstein-Barr or other viruses
- Certain medicines
The reason for jaundice following bilirubin production might be the result of obstructed bile ducts in connection with:
- Bladder inflammation
- Gallstones
- Certain cancers
Some patients also have jaundice in connection with liver problems. This can happen if you have:
- Arthritis
- Pyoderma gangrenosum (a skin disease)
- Inflamed liver (or ongoing hepatitis)
- Acute hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C
What are some of the symptoms of jaundice?
Jaundice is frequently diagnosed incidentally — actually, oftentimes, there aren’t even symptoms. Nonetheless, certain patients can have symptoms based on the underlying cause of jaundice. During your visit to our Indianapolis, IN practice if you show issues such as chilling, fever, abdominal aches, yellowing of the skin, dark-colored urine, white-colored stool, or flu-like symptoms, you could be dealing with jaundice resulting from an infection.
However, if your jaundice is not caused by any type of infection, it's possible to have an unintended drop in body weight or skin that itches. Additionally, the most frequent sign of jaundice related to cancer is stomach pain.
How is jaundice diagnosed and treated?
Jaundice is often discovered incidentally when addressing different conditions or signs. Jaundice may be found by checking for signs of liver disease. Signs related to this commonly include:
- Visible veins
- Palmar erythema (red color on the palms and fingertips)
- Skin bruising
Urinalysis and blood tests may also display bilirubin numbers. Our Indianapolis Gastroenterology and Hepatology providers can order a liver test to assess your liver size and function.
Once it's been detected, your provider can start to target the underlying source of jaundice. Because jaundice doesn't typically necessitate treatment, our team will concentrate on the symptoms connected to it. Some of the symptoms we treat include:
- Loose bowel movements
- Being bloated
- Abdominal pain or upset stomach
- Trouble having a bowel movement
- Vomiting
Personalized care for jaundice-related symptoms
If you have noticed a yellowish hue in your skin or eyes, you’ve experienced stomach pain, constipation or diarrhea, a bloated stomach, or throwing up, this could be a sign of jaundice. Even though jaundice alone often doesn’t require treatment, the root cause of the issue could — such as gallstones, bladder or liver inflammation, chronic hepatitis, or potentially cancer. Our board-certified GI providers at Indianapolis Gastroenterology and Hepatology specialize in addressing jaundice as well as a variety of different liver-related conditions connected to it. To get more information about jaundice and methods to address and limit the chances of it, reach out to our Indianapolis, IN practice to request a consultation.
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