Liver and yellow eyes

Liver and yellow eyes

Yellow eyes mean a change in the color of the white part of the eye to yellow, and this change is evidence of a disease in the liver , bile, or blood cells. It is worth noting that yellowing of the eyes does not occur as an independent symptom, but rather is accompanied by yellowing of the skin in general and some other symptoms, and the condition in which this type of yellowing occurs is called jaundice . ^[1]

Jaundice

Jaundice is defined as an increase in the level of bilirubin in the blood and in various tissues of the body as a result of an imbalance in the transfer of bilirubin from the blood to the liver and outside the body. Bilirubin is a byproduct of the process of breaking down hemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells . Where hemoglobin is broken down as part of the process of recycling red cells or breaking down the damaged ones, then the bilirubin resulting from the breakdown process moves to the liver to mix with what is known as bile, then it is excreted from the body through urine or stool, and perhaps the yellow color of bilirubin is This explains the yellow color of urine and the brown color of stool. ^{[2] [1]}

Symptoms of jaundice

Among the most common symptoms associated with jaundice are the following: ^[3]

• Yellowing of the eyes and skin.
• Pallor of the stool.
• Change the color of urine to become darker.
• Itching .

Causes of jaundice

Jaundice occurs as a result of the presence of a disorder or imbalance in specific parts of the body, and the following is an explanation: ^[4]

• Liver disorders: Jaundice may occur as a symptom of liver disorders , and among these disorders are the following:
  • Viral hepatitis , viral hepatitis types A, B, C, D, and E may cause inflammation in the liver, and it should be noted that types B and C may cause chronic inflammation for life.
  • Medicines that cause viral hepatitis (Medication-induced hepatitis); Some types of drugs can cause inflammation in the liver , including erythromycin, methotrexate, amiodarone, statins, nitrofurantoin and nitrofurantoin. and testosterone , and the contraceptive pill , and acetaminophen , and others.
  • Hepatitis autoimmune , and in this type of inflammation attacks the immune cells of the liver , and it should be noted that the liver autoimmune inflammation appears clearly in people who suffer from other immunological such as lupus disease , diseases Thyroid diseases, diabetes, and ulcerative colitis.
  • Alcoholic liver disease; As alcohol dependence and chronic use cause liver damage.
  • Gilbert's syndrome, which is a harmless genetic syndrome, which affects approximately 2% of people in the world, and causes disturbances in the metabolism processes related to bilirubin in the liver, causing jaundice to occur in cases of stress, infection, or exercise Or extreme hunger.
• Hemolysis : It means the excessive breakdown of red blood cells, and it may occur as a result of some conditions, including the following:
  • Malaria, in which a type of parasite attacks red blood cells, and accordingly, the liver breaks down the red blood cells affected by this type of infection.
  • Hemolytic anemia, which includes sickle-cell disease, thalassemia, and some autoimmune diseases.
  • Newborn jaundice. This type of jaundice occurs most frequently in newborns .
• Other problems : Obstruction may occur in certain organs of the body, which causes jaundice, and among these cases the following:
  • Gallstones, a gallstones may appear, resulting in a blockage of the bile duct, thus preventing the juice from reaching the intestine.
  • Cholestasis of pregnancy is one of the rare causes of jaundice, but it should be noted that the cholestasis that occurs during pregnancy is due to either genetic factors or hormonal factors.
  • Tumors ; The occurrence of tumors in the pancreas, gallbladder, or liver causes obstruction that results in the appearance of jaundice.

Prevention of jaundice

It is possible to prevent the occurrence of jaundice and thus prevent the yellowing of the eyes and skin by preserving the health and integrity of the liver and other organs in the body, by following some advice, including the following: ^{[5] [3]}

• Maintain personal hygiene and wash hands with soap and water before eating food and after using the toilet.
• Make sure to eat balanced food, fresh fruits, and well-cooked vegetables, and it is advised to avoid eating foods sold on the street due to their exposure to germs.
• Drink filtered, clean water.
• Avoid consuming alcohol.
• Exposing newborns to the sun; As the sun's rays are able to break down the accumulated bilirubin in the skin, hence phototherapy is one of the most effective methods of treating jaundice.
• Maintain an ideal weight and avoid eating foods rich in fat. As foods rich in fat may cause gallstones and Fatty Liver Disease.
• Get regular exercise.
• Feeding newborns well; Mothers are advised to breastfeed the child 8-12 times a day in the first days of his life if his breastfeeding is natural, and if his breastfeeding is artificial, it is advised to give him approximately 30-60 milliliters every three hours for a week from the moment of birth. ^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{A b} "Jaundice In Adults Gender: " , Www.msdmanuals.com , Retrieved November 24, 2017. Edited by .
2. ↑ "Jaundice" , www.nhs.uk , Retrieved November 24, 2017. Edited.
3. ^ ^{A b} "What is jaundice and how is it treated?" , www.medicalnewstoday.com , Retrieved November 24, 2017. Edited.
4. ↑ "Jaundice" , www.medbroadcast.com , Retrieved November 24, 2017. Edited.
5. ↑ "Advice to Prevent Jaundice" , www.hidoc.co , Retrieved November 24, 2017. Edited.
6. ↑ "Infant jaundice" , www.mayoclinic.org , Retrieved November 24, 2017. Edited.