YELLOW SKIN AND YELLOW EYES A SURE SIGN OF LIVER PROBLEM

Yellowing of the skin and eyes is called Jaundice and it is sign of liver problem. Jaundice is a sign of liver problem or diseases. Newborn usually have immature liver, as a result their liver is not able to breakdown hemoglobin or red blood cell which leads to buildup of Bilirubin in the blood. Yellowing of skin and eyes occurs when there is too much bilirubin in our body.

WHY ARE BABIES SUSPECTED PLACED UNDER BILI LIGHT;

Newborns and babies with suspected Jaundice are placed under light to help them break down bilirubin. Bilirubin is susceptible to photo-oxidation by artificial light or sunlight

What is bilirubin; It is a yellow pigment that is formed by the breakdown of dead red blood cells in the liver. Bilirubin is formed when our liver breaks down hemoglobin as part of normal process of recycling old or damaged red blood cells.  Bilirubin is moved through the bile ducts to be eliminated from the body. If bilirubin cannot be moved through the liver and bile ducts it starts to build up in the blood and next the bilirubin is then deposited in the skin. Jaundice may indicate a serious problem with the liver.  The most common causes of jaundice are; 

• Drinking large amounts of alcohol over time damages the liver.
• A blockage of a bile duct by a gallstone or tumor causes buildup of bilirubin in the blood.
• Hepatitis can damage the liver making it unable to move bilirubin into the bile ducts.
• Immature Liver as seen in most newborn