FAMILIAL JAUNDICE

Symptoms

The common symptom of familial jaundice is a yellowish color in the whites of your eyes and yellowish tinge of the skin.

In people affected with familial jaundice, the condition will get intense due to the following reasons:

• Stress
• Inadequate or lack of sleep
• Menstruation
• Dehydration
• Taking diet that has less calories
• High intensity exercises

Diagnosis

There are other health conditions that show high levels of bilirubin in the blood.

Elevated bilirubin levels is one of the signs of familial jaundice. Other signs include pain in the abdomen and dark colored urine.

To confirm whether the condition is familial jaundice, your doctor will ask for a combination of liver function tests and blood tests.

Genetic testing will help in confirming the diagnosis.

Treatment

Familial jaundice does not need any specific treatment. Normally the fluctuating bilirubin levels and jaundice will get cured on its own without any harm.

Stress can lead to increased bilirubin levels, which in turn, may result to jaundice. You can follow these tips to keep bilirubin levels in control:

• Follow a strict eating schedule
• Avoid skipping meals or fasting
• Avoid low-calorie meals
• Eat a healthy balanced diet
• Keep your stress in control
• Meditation, exercises and listening to music can help you relieve stress
• Visit your doctor whenever required