Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Medical Assistance
• Part 2 of 2: Preventing jaundice

Jaundice, or hyperbilirubinemia, is common in children, although it can affect adults as well. Jaundice is caused by high levels of bilirubin, a substance found in liver bile. With this disease, the skin, whites of the eyes and mucous membranes turn yellow. While jaundice is not always a health hazard, it can be a sign of another medical condition that needs to be treated.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Medical Assistance

1. 1 See your doctor. If your child develops any signs or symptoms of jaundice, see a doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes you can go without treatment, but if the jaundice is caused by a medical condition, you will need medical attention. In adults, intermittent jaundice may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
   • heat;
   • chills;
   • abdominal pain;
   • other flu-like symptoms;
   • yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
2. 2 Seek medical attention if a child or infant has jaundice. Children, including small children, are also prone to jaundice. Jaundice is common in infants and often clears up on its own within two weeks. However, severe jaundice in an infant can be a sign of serious complications.
   • To check for jaundice, check your child's skin and whites of the eyes for yellow.
   • If a child or infant becomes ill with jaundice, see a doctor immediately.
3. 3 Get an accurate diagnosis. In adults, jaundice is often associated with other medical conditions that require treatment. The doctor will order tests, the results of which will allow him to identify the disease that caused the jaundice and prescribe the appropriate treatment. To find out the cause of jaundice, your doctor may order a blood test, ultrasound, computed tomography, and even a liver biopsy. The following conditions often cause jaundice:
   • hepatitis A;
   • chronic hepatitis B and C;
   • infection with the Epstein-Barr virus, or infectious mononucleosis;
   • alcohol abuse;
   • autoimmune and genetic diseases;
   • gallstones;
   • inflammation of the gallbladder;
   • gallbladder cancer;
   • pancreatitis;
   • Certain medications, such as paracetamol, penicillin, oral contraceptives, or steroids, can also cause jaundice.
   • A doctor will be able to diagnose jaundice for signs of liver disease such as bruising, spider hemangioma, palmar erythema, and the presence of bilirubin in the urine. In addition, the doctor may use an imaging test or liver biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
4. 4 Start treating the cause. If a doctor discovers that the jaundice is caused by a medical condition, he or she will most likely treat the jaundice to see if it will help fix other health problems. Successful treatment of the underlying condition and associated complications can help manage jaundice.
5. 5 Wait for the jaundice to clear up on its own. In most cases, jaundice goes away on its own without any treatment.Talk to your doctor to make sure the treatment is the best option, especially if your jaundice is caused by some other medical condition.
6. 6 Take medication for itching. Sometimes jaundice is accompanied by itching. If itching gets worse or affects your daily life, take appropriate medications, such as cholestyramine, to relieve it.
   • Cholestyramine helps control liver cholesterol levels.
   • Side effects of this drug include abdominal discomfort, indigestion, nausea, flatulence, and constipation.
7. 7 Treat your baby. Jaundice is very common in infants and, as in adults, often requires no treatment. However, if a doctor diagnoses jaundice in a young child, they may prescribe one of the following treatments to relieve symptoms.
   • Phototherapy is the use of light to help the baby's body eliminate excess bilirubin.
   • Intravenous immunoglobulin injections can help reduce the amount of jaundice-causing antibodies in the baby's body.
   • In an exchange transfusion, a small amount of the child's blood is replaced with the donor's blood, which lowers the bilirubin level. Exchange transfusion is used only in severe cases of jaundice in infants.

Part 2 of 2: Preventing jaundice

1. 1 Avoid getting hepatitis. The hepatitis virus is one of the main causes of jaundice in adults. Prevention of hepatitis can reduce the risk of not only this disease, but also jaundice.
   • Hepatitis A can be prevented by vaccination. Anyone can get the vaccine.
   • Hepatitis A is acquired by swallowing small amounts of faeces, mostly with contaminated food. Be careful when traveling to avoid eating food that has not been properly prepared or cleaned.
   • Hepatitis B can also be prevented through vaccination. Everyone, from newborn to adult, can get the vaccine.
   • There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
   • Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through the blood and other body fluids of an infected person and cannot be spread by simple contact. Avoid reusing needles of any type, from tattoos to narcotic drugs, to protect yourself from hepatitis B and C.
2. 2 Do not overuse alcoholic beverages. Since the liver processes alcohol, and malfunctioning of the liver can lead to jaundice, be careful when drinking alcohol. This will help not only relieve the symptoms of jaundice, but also avoid alcohol-related liver diseases such as cirrhosis.
   • Women are advised to consume no more than 2-3 servings of alcohol per day. For men, the daily dose should not exceed 3-4 servings.
   • For example, one bottle of wine corresponds to 9-10 servings of alcohol.
3. 3 Maintain a healthy weight. Maintaining body weight in a stable healthy range promotes overall health. It also helps keep the liver healthy and thus prevent jaundice.
   • You can easily maintain a healthy weight if you eat regularly and eat a healthy and balanced diet. Nutrient-rich foods with moderate amounts of fat and complex carbohydrates are best for your health.
   • You should consume about 1,800-2,200 calories per day, depending on your level of physical activity. However, calories should be consumed with nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, vegetables and fruits, dairy products, and lean protein sources.
   • Exercise is essential to maintain a healthy weight and stay healthy.
   • Engage in light to moderate cardio daily. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day for most of the week.
4. 4 Control your cholesterol levels. This will not only help prevent jaundice, but also help maintain overall health. Cholesterol levels can be controlled through proper nutrition and exercise, or medication if needed.
   • To maintain normal cholesterol levels, eat more soluble fiber, healthy fats, and omega-3 fatty acids with your food. These nutrients are found in foods such as lean meats, low-fat dairy products, olive oil, salmon, almonds, oats, lentils, and vegetables.
   • Eliminate or limit trans fats from your diet. Trans fats raise bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) levels. Limit your intake or cut out fried foods, baked goods, cookies, and crackers altogether to better control your cholesterol levels.
   • Exercising thirty minutes a day can help raise your good cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) levels.
   • There is evidence that smoking cessation leads to higher levels of good cholesterol.
5. 5 Feed your baby well. The baby should be getting enough food throughout the day. This is the best way to prevent jaundice.
6. 6 If you are breastfeeding, your baby should be fed 8-12 times a day during the first week of life.
   • If you are using formula, give your baby 30-60 ml of formula every 2-3 hours for the first week of life.