Most parents recognize the fear and trepidation that comes with an illness to their child. It can be one of the most frightening things a person can go through. Not knowing about the condition also adds to this fear. This can change, as learning about an illness can not only alleviate your fears but help provide the best care possible for their child. One of the conditions that can affect numerous children worldwide is jaundice. It is an illness that has an effect on the bloodstream, liver, digestive and excretion systems of the body. This condition is easy to identify as it will turn your child’s skin and sclerae (the white part of the eyes) yellow. Jaundice can manifest in adults and kids alike.
Amongst the numerous conditions that can affect your child, one of the easier illnesses to identify is jaundice. Although jaundice alone is not a dangerous illness, the yellowing of the skin and the white part of the eyes that it causes is a sign of a rise in bilirubin in the bloodstream. Bilirubin, commonly known as bile, is a fluid that is produced in the liver and is yellow in colour. This fluid is essential to the functions of the body, particularly the digestive tract. This fluid usually helps regulate the digestive system and is excreted through the stool. When it fails to come out through the stool and begins to work its way into your system, it can spike the amount of bilirubin in the blood which leads to a condition known as hyperbilirubinemia. This is the primary cause of the change of colour in the eyes and skin.
This type of jaundice is caused when the natural excretion of bile from your body is blocked causing extra bile to be present in your liver.
Also called haemolytic jaundice, this is caused when red blood cells break down much faster than they should, red blood cells have bile particles in them and when they break down too fast it can cause excess bile in your body.
Commonly called intra-hepatic jaundice, this is caused due to some form of trauma or injury that damages the liver causing a large amount of bile to be found in your body.
Jaundice can be caused due to numerous different reasons, some of these are:
There are many ways to identify jaundice, some of the symptoms of this condition are:
Diagnosing jaundice can be done in different ways. Usually, the tests for adults don’t vary that much from the ones done for kids. A good way to notice if your child has jaundice is to understand that a change in skin colour, specifically to yellow is a clear-cut manner in which a doctor will diagnose jaundice. Here are some other things your doctor may ask you to do to confirm the diagnosis.
Whether it be treating jaundice for 4-year-old kids or adults, it is very important to get sufficient rest, increase your intake of fluids. In most cases, this should cure the condition and in the cases it doesn’t, here are a few other treatment techniques:
Talk to your physician to come up with a customized treatment plan to help you combat this condition.
Apart from the medicated treatments, some parents may choose to opt for natural home remedies. Here are a few remedies that may help combat jaundice.
Rich in enzymes that repair damaged livers called Lycopene, tomatoes are thought to have properties that can help rid your child of jaundice.
This ingredient reinforces enzymes that flush out carcinogens that hurt the liver and can help beat jaundice in kids.
It is estimated that apart from helping restore glucose, sugarcane has particular properties that can fasten recovery from jaundice.
Not only does buttermilk re-energize and refresh your child, it hydrates them and helps improve digestion. This can help combat jaundice.
Considered the quickest and most natural cure for jaundice, it is assumed that barley water has properties that reinforce the digestive tract and liver.
Lemon juice works to reinforce and protect the liver, beetroot has properties to purify blood and help digestion. The combination of the two are known to help cure jaundice quickly and efficiently.
To learn more about natural remedies for jaundice talk to your primary health care physician.
During jaundice, it is important to regulate your child’s diet religiously. This is because this condition can cause weakness and fatigue while also impairing nutritional value naturally. Here are a few things to keep in mind while creating a meal plan for your kids:
Talk to a dietician and doctor before implementing a diet plan.
Here are a few tips to help prevent jaundice:
We recommend you talk to your doctor for more tips on how to prevent jaundice.
Jaundice can be a tough disease to face. It can exhaust your kids and you. Remember though, with the right treatment and care they can make a complete recovery. It is highly recommended that you follow through with a treatment plan for the entire prescribed duration, and ensure that good hygiene plays a huge part in your child’s routine. Diet and exercise with good hygiene can help avoid most diseases like jaundice.