Are you concerned about getting jaundice? This condition that causes yellow skin and eyeballs is caused by fluid buildup in the body. The condition itself isn’t dangerous but can show several possible conditions that a medical professional should treat. It’s important to get facts like is jaundice contagious. That will help you to know what to expect in terms of whether you can get infected from other people or infect others. This is a common condition and affects at least half of full-term babies. However, as always, it’s critical to know details about jaundice in terms of symptoms, causes, and treatments
The good news is in most cases jaundice isn’t serious. The condition related to blood cells usually clears up within a few weeks after treatment starts. However, it’s critical to know as much as possible about the condition. This can provide you with the information you need related to symptoms and treatments. Like other health conditions, it’s important to treat jaundice as soon as possible. In fact, it can clear up within one week of treatment so it’s critical for the patient to get effective treatments as soon as possible. This can help to prevent possible complications, which is a plus.
What Exactly Is Jaundice?
Many people have heard of the condition and can recognize symptoms like yellowish skin and eyeballs. However, it might be unclear about what causes the condition and issues like whether it can be passed on to other people.
Jaundice results from the buildup of the fluid bilirubin in the patient’s body. The illness itself isn’t dangerous. However, it can be a sign of possible health conditions. It is important for a doctor to diagnose/treat them since they could cause various complications.
This condition is related to red blood cells. They usually live around 4 months then die before the body flushes them out. When the spleen breaks down the red blood cells this produces the bilirubin fluid. If there’s a buildup of the fluid it causes issues like yellowish skin/eyeballs.
There are three main classes of jaundice conditions. They include:
PRE-HEPATIC
In this condition, the body breaks down too many red blood cells. It results in red blood cells getting broken down faster. This condition can be the result of certain genetic issues like anemia.
HEPATIC
The liver doesn’t process bilirubin properly. There are several causes like liver disease, which often caused by alcoholism. Neonatal jaundice happens among newborns and usually lasts only about one week. it’s usually harmless and passes on its own usually.
if a baby shows signs of this condition it’s important for a doctor to check it out. Seedtimes newborns need about a week until their livers start working correctly. The yellow color seen isn’t based on a disease. However, it’s still classified as hepatic since the main cause is the liver organ.
POST-HEPATIC
This causes bile to not pass properly. this happens when bile doesn’t properly drain. This condition can be caused by various factors like blocked bile ducts. There are other factors related to bile to know about.
Is Jaundice Contagious? The Conditions That Cause It Might Be
This is a key question to know whether you can get or give the condition. In fact, jaundice itself isn’t contagious. However, the conditions that cause it might be. it’s important to be aware of this fact so you’ll know whether or not conditions you or someone you have can be passed on to another person. These are known as “communicable diseases” and include:
- HEPATITIS A: This disease can be spread through contaminated food/water. It is more common in regions where there’s a small supply of quality water.
- HEPATITIS B: This type of infection gets transmitted by contacting the blood/fluids of a person who’s been infected. It can be transmitted through sharing needles or sexual activity.
- HEPATITIS C: Hep C can also get transmitted like Hep B. Other risks include people getting stuck with needles that an infected person used.
- HEPATITIS D: This is a condition that happens when a person contacts infected blood and have Hep B already. In order to have Hep D, you have to have Hep B first.
- HEPATITIS E: This disease is transmitted through dirty drinking water. Usually, it doesn’t result in serious or long-term infections.
It’s important to note that some causes of jaundice are non-contagious. They include genetic disorders and rare diseases. There are times when 2+ household members get jaundice simultaneously. This can be due to having a common medication.
It’s reported 150+ medicines can result in liver damage that’s serious enough to cause jaundice. However, it’s worth noting that taking the same medicines or possessing the same genetic condition isn’t equal to getting jaundice from someone.
There’s another condition known as that causes red blood cells to turn over more. It’s caused by the blood having too much bilirubin. These conditions usually aren’t contagious.
Liver conditions can also cause jaundice. That’s due to people who have liver damage due to heavy alcohol drinking.
Top Tips for Jaundice Self-Care
1. Get enough sleep
This can help to deal with the condition since it will help to boost your body’s immune system. Meanwhile, if you don’t sleep enough it can make your body weaker and increase the chance of conditions like jaundice. That’s definitely a situation you’ll want to avoid.
2. Drink water and fluids
Make sure you consume enough water/fluids. this includes options like black coffee, green tea, and fruit/vegetable juice. Make sure to avoid store-bought beverages as much as possible. They often contain additives like sugar and artificial sweeteners/colors.
3. Provide light for newborns
Make sure you allow your newborn baby to light many times during the day. This can lower levels of the fluid that can lead to jaundice. It also provides various other benefits so it’s a good idea anyway.
4. Avoid certain herbs, supplements, and medicines
Make sure to avoid ones that might cause various side-effects. This might result in jaundice. As always, it’s critical to talk to your doctor before you start any new supplements or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. The reason is they might “interact” with others you’re taking and cause unwanted side-effects. That’s certainly a situation you’ll want to avoid.
5. Take prescribed medicine
Your doctor can prescribe various medicines that can help to deal with the condition. It’s important to take the medicines as prescribed. This includes the types, dosage, and times. It’s common for jaundice to clear up within a few weeks after starting treatment. The caveat is to follow the doctor’s orders to a tee.
6. Maintain a healthy diet
Make sure you’re consuming a well-balanced, low-fat diet. This should include clean/lean meats, whole grains, fruits/veggies, nuts/seeds, and healthy oils. Taking this basic step can provide several health benefits. Make sure to avoid highly-processed food contain white sugar and refined grains after learning is jaundice contagious.
Jaundice isn’t contagious and can be a sign of possible health conditions. However, the conditions that cause it might be. A doctor needs to diagnose and treat them since they could cause various complications.
