Jaundice: signs in children, the main causes and characteristics of treatment

Probably, many are familiar with the term such as jaundice, signs in children and in adults which consist in the coloring of the skin and mucous in a yellowish color. This process is due to the accumulation in the tissues of the pigment - bilirubin. Jaundice is still not a separate disease, it is rather a sign or a kind of signal that something "abnormal" occurs in the body. And it's always scary when a similar phenomenon occurs in a young child. So what is hidden under the term "jaundice"? How is it treated? What are the signs of jaundice in children and adults?

What is bilirubin?

Before delving into the essence of this yellow syndrome, you need to understand what bilirubin is. Simply put, it is the coloring pigment of bile, which is the product of the breakdown of hemoglobin. In a normal state, bilirubin accumulates in the digestive tract, and then it is excreted from the body naturally, that is, through feces. But if a person has an unhealthy condition in which this pigment is not excreted and begins to accumulate in the blood, his skin and sclera acquire a yellowish tinge.

Bilirubin: the norm

Normal bilirubin in healthy people is as follows:

• The total is up to 20.5 μmol / l.
• Direct - up to 5.1 μmol / l.
• Free - up to 16.2 micromol / l.

It is worth noting that bilirubin is an extremely dangerous compound. It is very toxic to our body. Its significant excess has a negative impact on human health. Excess bilirubin leads to intoxication of the whole organism and to malfunctions in the work of organs. Especially dangerous is the impact on newborns.

Types of jaundice and underlying causes

The symptom of jaundice itself develops only in three cases:

• First, if bilirubin is formed in excess.
• Secondly, if the process of processing this enzyme is disrupted.
• And, thirdly, if its deduction is violated.

Based on these three cases, three forms of jaundice are identified:

1. Superheated . In this case, excessive formation of bilirubin occurs due to increased disintegration of erythrocytes, and the liver simply does not have time to process it.

Superhepatic jaundice develops with the following diseases and certain causes:

• Anemia in children.
• Sepsis, malaria, typhoid fever.
• Endocarditis.
• Parasites in the blood.
• Incompatibility of the donor product.
• Extensive hematomas.
• Malignant formation of hematopoietic tissue.

1. Hepatic . This form of jaundice is associated with the destruction of liver cells. It simply is not capable of capturing bilirubin, as a result of which both the direct and free pigment in the blood is elevated. Diseases that are accompanied by hepatic jaundice are diverse, but the most frequent are viral hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.
2. The liver. This form occurs when the bile outflow function is impaired. The cause in this case can be a blockage of the bile ducts with stones or parasites, or squeezing with various formations: cysts or tumors.

Still exists so-called false jaundice, which appears due to the use of products with a lot of keratin. Similar signs of jaundice in children (1 year - 2.5 years) arise if the baby eats a lot of carrots, pumpkins or oranges.

The first signs of jaundice in children

Each form of this syndrome has its own specific symptoms. The signs of jaundice in children at 3 years differ little from adults. But the child most often jaundice occurs against the background of hepatitis. To ensure that children do not suffer from this disease, mandatory vaccination is carried out in our country. And now we will analyze the symptoms for each form, and consider the signs of jaundice in a child (2 years and older).

To understand that a baby has superhepatic jaundice according to the following indices:

• Increased indirect bilirubin in the blood.
• Skin, sclera and mucous become yellow with moderate pallor.
• Cal also changes color, it becomes dark brown.
• The liver and spleen increase in size. There may be pain in the left hypochondrium.
• Temperature increase.
• Moods, headache, fatigue and increased heartbeat in a child.

The second symptoms of jaundice (hepatic) are characterized by the following symptoms:

• Bright orange shade of skin and mucous membranes.
• Enlargement of the liver and spleen.
• Chills and fever.
• Lack of appetite in the baby.
• Nausea, headache.
• Apathy.
• Possible nasal bleeding.
• Diarrhea.

Determine this form of jaundice can be on the following grounds:

• Dark color of urine with foam.
• Colorless feces with a lot of fatty acids.
• Elevated bilirubin, cholesterol in the blood.

Jaundice in the newborn

Approximately 60% of all newborns on average on day 3 show a specific skin color. Jaundice in infants is called physiological, since it does not signal a disease, but speaks of a period of adaptation. This phenomenon is temporary and lasts no more than 10 days. So why does it arise and what are the main signs of jaundice in a newborn baby?

The fact is that when a child is in the womb, he has blood with a special hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the organs. When the baby begins to breathe with the lungs, his blood composition changes, the special hemoglobin is destroyed and "alive" is formed. Here and there is an excess of bilirubin, and a small body is not yet able to cope with it, so jaundice appears. Signs in young children of this syndrome are expressed only by icteric sclera and skin, and otherwise the baby is quite normal. Liver and spleen of normal size. In newborns, jaundice can not be treated medically, since the liver restores its function independently.

Treatment

The treatment of jaundice is reduced to determining the causes that caused it. For example, superhepatic jaundice, the signs in children of which have been described above, is treated by stopping the disintegration of red blood cells. If jaundice is caused by the destruction of the liver, then in this case drugs that are capable of repairing it are used. In the case of viral hepatitis, antiviral drugs are prescribed. With more severe diseases, liver transplantation is possible. A subhepatic jaundice, the signs of which children have been described above, is treated only surgically.

Nutrition for jaundice

When treating the disease that caused jaundice, it is necessary to adhere to a certain diet. The essence of the principle of nutrition will be to reduce the load on the liver and cleanse the bile duct. Here is a list of foods that should be excluded from the diet at the time of illness:

• Any broth and soup (fish, meat, chicken, mushroom).
• Any pickles, as well as pickled products and canned food.
• Chocolate and all products that contain cocoa.
• Smoked products and meat delicacies.
• Cold drinks and ice cream.
• Spices and condiments.
• Mushrooms.
• Butter buns and fresh bread.
• Fruits and berries with sourness.
• Eggs (any).
• Beans
• From vegetables: radish, radish and spinach.
• Alcohol.
• Strong coffee and tea.
• And, of course, fatty and fried food.

Yes, the list is impressive! Any violation can aggravate the situation, so you need to strictly adhere to this diet. After jaundice, about 2 weeks will have to eat this way, otherwise the risk of recurrence of the disease is high.

Probably, at first glance, it seems to many that they will generally have to go hungry. But this is not so. There is a list of allowed products, of which it is possible to make a daily diet:

• All dairy products with low fat content.
• All cereals, pasta and vegetable dishes.
• Boiled meat (any).
• Yesterday's bread.
• Fruit.
• Oil (cream, sunflower).
• Incomplete tea and vegetable juice.

And finally, the food should be fresh and warm. To build a nutrition plan, depending on the severity of the disease, the attending physician will help you.

Preventive measures

The simplest and most basic preventive method is observance of personal hygiene rules for one's own and one's own child. Particular attention should be paid to the purity of food. That is, all vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed. Be sure to teach your child to wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet. Also it is necessary to avoid contact with personal things of other people, for example, do not use someone else's razor, comb, toothbrush, manicure scissors. On these things can remain biological products of a sick person. Drink only boiled water. Try not to eat in street cafes. You can get infected through some procedures, for example, piercing, manicure, pedicure, tattooing. Therefore, these manipulations should be carried out only in the approved salons, which have appropriate certificates. And the most correct and effective way of prevention is vaccination.

Conclusion

The liver is a kind of filter in our body, it sucks in itself all unnecessary and harmful. And when its function is broken, the body is attacked by toxins and other harmful substances. If you notice any external signs of jaundice in your child or in your area, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Timely treatment will always ensure recovery. Do not be ill!