What is jaundice?

What is jaundice?

1. Jaundice is a symptom and sign, not a disease. It is caused by the increase of serum bilirubin concentration due to bilirubin metabolism disorder.

2. Jaundice is caused by bilirubin metabolism disorder, which increases the concentration of bilirubin in the serum, leading to yellowing of tissues and body fluids such as the sclera, skin, and mucous membranes. Due to the high elasticity of the sclera and the strong affinity of hard protein with bilirubin, the yellowing of the sclera of patients with jaundice often precedes the mucous membranes and skin, making it easy to detect. Jaundice can occur in diseases such as viral hepatitis, toxic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Jaundice can generally be diagnosed through blood routine, peripheral blood smear, serum haptoglobin, and coagulation function tests. Due to different causes, different types of jaundice have different treatment plans. If symptoms of jaundice are found, you should seek medical attention in time, conduct relevant examinations under the guidance of a doctor, and then carry out symptomatic treatment according to the examination results.

3. When jaundice occurs, you should pay attention to rest, avoid fatigue, avoid staying up late, ensure adequate sleep, eat in moderation, avoid eating unclean or contaminated food, eat less fat, fried dough sticks, hot pot and other greasy foods, strictly quit smoking and drinking, eat more light and easily digestible food, such as millet porridge, egg soup, noodles, etc., avoid overeating, maintain a comfortable mood, and keep warm. You should also closely observe changes in the condition, and actively treat and follow up.