Most cases of jaundice

Jaundice
The yellow coloration of the white of the eyes and skin is a symptom called jaundice.
The most common cause of jaundice is liver disease called hepatitis, caused by viral
infection. These viruses most often get into the body through eating and drinking
infected food and water. This disease occurs commonly in the hot weather and the
rainy season, such as diarrhoea and cholera. The viruses that cause jaundice can
also enter the body through unsafe injections given by unsterilized syringes and
needles, unsafe blood transfusion and sexual contact with an infected person. A
few cases of jaundice are caused by liver diseases other than viral infections such as
blood diseases, cancers, infections and stones in the gall bladder.
It is important to remember that Hepatitis starts gradually with progressive:
--> Loss of appetite.
--> nausea
--> Vomiting.
--> Low-grade fever gradually becoming moderate.
--> Feeling of weakness
--> Yellowing of the eyes and the urine.
What to do if someone has jaundice?
--> It is essential to give plenty of oral fluids.
--> It is also important to give small amounts of bland, non-spicy food. The patient
may initially refuse to eat but the caregiver must encourage the person to take
small quantities at frequent intervals. Sometimes it is necessary to prepare
special food (which could be sweet) that the person likes, to encourage eating.
It is important to contact the health worker for:
--> Medicines to stop vomiting.
--> Taking the patient to hospital, if required.
--> Tests and investigations that are needed to find out why the patient had
jaundice and needed treatment. It is best to let the health worker decide this.
Ways to prevent jaundice
--> Most cases of jaundice are caused by hepatitis, due to consumption of
infected food and water. Hence, precautions to eat clean food that is not stale
must be observed. Also, drinking safe (boiled or filtered) water as described
in the sections earlier will help prevent many cases.
--> Some forms of liver disease causing jaundice due to viral infections can be
prevented by immunisation.
One should always insist on sterilised or disposable needles/syringes that can be
used and thrown if getting an injection. In case a blood transfusion is needed, one
should take it only from a registered blood bank.
--> It is essential to practise safe sex.
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