Jaundice causes the skin and eyes to develop a yellowish colour. Not necessarily a medical condition on its own, jaundice is often linked to dysfunction of the liver, which usually occurs in conjunction with other medical conditions. Accordingly, finding the right treatment for an underlying medical condition can resolve the effects of jaundice.
Haemolysis is a process that breaks down the body’s red blood cells. In some individuals, haemolysis can happen too quickly, which causes a flood of bilirubin, aka yellow pigment produced during haemolysis, to flow into the liver. The liver can’t process an excess of bilirubin effectively, which leads to the yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Certain medical conditions can contribute to pre-hepatic jaundice, including:
Pre-hepatic jaundice can also result from a genetic condition known as spherocytosis that affects the shape of red blood cells.
There is no specific treatment for pre-hepatic jaundice. Instead, doctors must treat the underlying medical condition, which in turn reduces the speed at which haemolysis occurs. With thalassemia, doctors may recommend blood transfusions to introduce more healthy red blood cells to the body. Bone marrow transplants may also be necessary.
Both sickle cell anaemia and malaria can be treated with specific medications. However, sickle cell anaemia may also require additional treatment, including blood transfusions. And when it comes to spherocytosis, taking folic acid can aid in the production of new red blood cells.