Dr. Sergey Vyalov, a liver specialist, explained that jaundice results from the presence of the pigment bilirubin in the blood and may indicate liver problems, bile flow obstruction, or excessive breakdown of red blood cells.
اضافة اعلان
Dr. Vyalov stated: “Jaundice is not a disease itself, but a symptom characterized by yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and the whites of the eyes due to increased bilirubin levels in the blood, medically known as jaundice syndrome.”
He added that bilirubin is produced from the breakdown of hemoglobin, noting that jaundice is often misdiagnosed as hepatitis A, even though there are dozens of other potential causes.
Dr. Vyalov identified the main causes of jaundice as viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, poisoning from toxins or medications, gallstones, pancreatic or bile duct tumors, and rapid destruction of red blood cells.
He emphasized that jaundice poses a particular risk to newborns, as elevated bilirubin levels can lead to bilirubin encephalopathy, causing permanent neurological damage. The risk is higher in younger infants.
For adults and the elderly, the danger lies in the underlying disease causing the jaundice rather than the symptom itself. Jaundice can lead to serious complications, including sepsis, acute liver failure, cirrhosis, coma, severe anemia, and hypoxia. Dr. Vyalov noted that aging reduces the safety margin, making jaundice causes more common and severe, such as tumors and gallstones. (RT)
