Jaundice FAQs

1. Are there more than one kind of hepatitis infections? If so, how are they caused?

Yes, there are 5 types of hepatitis infections that occur referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. The most common cause of hepatitis are viruses, but hepatitis may also be caused due to substance/drug abuse like excess use of some medicines or alcohol and some autoimmune diseases. The different hepatitis infections and their causes include:

Hepatitis A:

• It is caused by the hepatitis A virus which is transmitted mostly by consuming contaminated food and drinks.

Hepatitis B

• Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus, which is transmitted from infective blood, semen and other body fluids. It can spread to babies from infected pregnant mothers during delivery, use of infected syringes, injection drug use, blood transfusion and unprotected sex.

Hepatitis C

• Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is mostly transmitted through exposure to infective blood. It may spread through injection drug use, using contaminated injections during medical procedures and transfusions of contaminated blood and blood products

Hepatitis D

• Hepatitis D is caused by the hepatitis D virus. Spreads through blood-to-blood contact or sexual contact. As it need hepatitis B virus to survive, it only affects people who are already infected with hepatitis B. The dual infection of HDV and HBV can result in a more serious disease.

Hepatitis E

• Hepatitis E is caused by the hepatitis E virus. Spreads by consuming contaminated drinks or food.

Alcoholic hepatitis

• Alcoholic hepatitis is a type of hepatitis caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years.

Autoimmune hepatitis

• Autoimmune hepatitis is caused when the immune system attacks and damages the liver.

2. In jaundice, why do the eyes and skin become yellowish?

Jaundice is caused due to elevated blood levels of a body pigment secreted by liver bilirubin  which leads to yellowish discoloration of white coloured portion of the eyes, the skin and mucous membranes. Bilirubin is a yellow colored waste product that remains in the bloodstream once iron is removed from the haemoglobin. It is important to remember that jaundice is not a disease per se, but rather a visible sign of an underlying disease process.

3. Is jaundice common in heavy alcohol drinkers?

Excessive intake of alcohol over several years, especially when nutrition is not adequately healthy, may lead to inflamed liver, which ultimately may cause a condition called as alcoholic hepatitis. People with alcoholic hepatitis usually have high blood levels of bilirubin (which is a yellow coloured waste in the blood), which is most commonly known as jaundice. 

4. A family member has recently been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. How can Ayurveda help in managing the condition?

Ayurveda believes in holistic management of liver cirrhosis through correct lifestyle and diet regime which can help manage the condition. These include:

Diet recommendations

• Complete abstinence from alcohol
• An initial liver cleaning may be advised. Freshly extracted juices from fruits like lemon, papaya and grapes may be consumed; as per physician’s recommendations.
• The patient may gradually start well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits
• An adequate high quality protein diet should be consumed
• Vegetables such as beets, tomato, carrot, bitter gourd, egg-plant, radishes, squashes and papaya may be useful in this condition.
• Oils and fats should preferably be avoided for several weeks.
• The patient should avoid refined, processed and canned foods, preparations cooked in ghee, oil or butter and all meats rich in fat.
• The use of salt should be restricted.

Lifestyle recommendations

• The patient should be advised complete rest.
• Warm water enema may be used for cleansing the bowels, as per physicians advice
• Breathing and other exercises may be practiced.

5. My doctor says I have fatty liver disease which has been caused due to factors other than alcohol intake. What could these reasons be?

Fat deposits in the liver cause fatty liver disease. Alcohol is a very common cause, but there are many other reasons for fatty liver disease, which in this case is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. These include-

• Obesity or being overweight
• Metabolic disorder like - Type 2 diabetes, High blood pressure, High cholesterol
• Age over 50 years
• Smoking