Bilirubin is produced as a secondary product of the replacement of old blood cells with new blood cells. The liver plays a role in breaking down bilirubin into a form that can be excreted by the body. Elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia) trigger jaundice or jaundice (yellowing of the skin and white eyes) and indicate problems with the liver. Many babies develop jaundice in the first week after birth. Adults can also experience increased levels of bilirubin due to problems in the liver. The treatment required differs between infants and adults. By learning more about the effects and causes of elevated bilirubin levels in both adults and infants, you will be able to identify and treat this condition well.
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Part 1 of 2: Lowering Bilirubin Levels in Babies
Step 1. Try to assess the risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia in your baby
Factors that cause increased levels of bilirubin include heredity, environment, or related to other health conditions.
- Babies born prematurely tend not to be able to process bilirubin because the liver is not fully formed.
- Babies whose blood type doesn't match their mother's blood type-known as ABO Incompatibility-can be born with high levels of bilirubin in their blood.
- If the baby has significant bruising at birth, the breakdown of red blood cells can increase bilirubin levels.
- Babies can develop "jaundice due to breast milk" for two reasons: the presence of certain proteins in the mother's milk or the baby is not getting enough breast milk to cause dehydration.
- Some babies may have liver, blood, or enzyme problems or other health problems that cause an increase in bilirubin. In addition, babies can also experience infections that result in increased bilirubin.
Step 2. Breastfeed your baby regularly
Doctors may recommend breastfeeding a baby with jaundice up to 12 times a day.
- Since problems with sucking (finding) the nipple and sucking can cause your baby to not get enough milk, consider the help of a lactation consultant who is trained in helping mothers breastfeed their babies.
- Breastfeeding the baby more often will encourage defecation which can eliminate bilirubin.
- If increasing the frequency of breastfeeding does not reduce bilirubin levels, your pediatrician may recommend that you supplement your baby's diet with formula or expressed breast milk.
Step 3. Ask your pediatrician about light therapy (phototherapy)
Light therapy utilizes light in the baby in the blue-green spectrum. Light waves will be emitted into the baby's body and into the blood, converting the bilirubin into a substance that the baby's body can excrete.
- A soft eye patch will be put on the baby to protect his eyes from light. Babies can also wear diapers during therapy.
- Babies will most likely have loose, frequent stools, and may have a greenish color as a side effect of light therapy. This is normal and will stop when therapy is stopped.
- While direct, natural sunlight can help lower bilirubin levels, it is not recommended as a treatment. Both the level of sun exposure and the baby's body temperature during irradiation are too difficult to measure and control.
Step 4. Consider using a biliblanket
Biliblanket is a state-of-the-art fiber optic light therapy treatment tool.
- Biliblanket consists of woven fiber optic material that is placed directly on the baby so as to provide maximum lighting. This device allows the baby to be carried and breastfed without interfering with the course of treatment.
- Biliblankets can cause your baby's skin to look white or red, but this is actually part of the treatment process that goes away when bilirubin levels drop.
Step 5. Discuss other treatment methods with your doctor
If the jaundice is due to an infection or other health problem, such as an increased breakdown of red blood cells, your doctor may recommend other methods such as medication or even a blood transfusion.
Part 2 of 2: Lowering Bilirubin Levels in Adults
Step 1. Have your health checked to identify conditions that could contribute to elevated bilirubin levels in adults
The bilirubin production system can experience problems in one of three ways: before, during, and after the production process. Each of these problems can result in the following conditions:
- Adults can develop what is called " unconjugated jaundice " when problems arise before bilirubin is produced. This is generally due to reabsorption of large blood clots or due to hemolytic anemia.
- When bilirubin is produced, adults can develop jaundice from viruses such as hepatitis and Epstein-Barr, autoimmune disorders, and excessive consumption of alcohol or certain drugs, including acetaminophen, oral contraceptives, and steroids.
- If adults develop jaundice due to problems following the production of bilirubin, the problem may originate in the gallbladder or pancreas.
Step 2. Visit a doctor
If you have jaundice, you will need to have your bilirubin levels checked. Jaundice can be an indication of a serious health problem. Usually, doctors will find and treat the cause of jaundice and treat any complications caused by it. Jaundice itself is usually not treated. Sometimes doctors can prescribe medication to help relieve itching, which is a common symptom of jaundice.
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Jaundice is often accompanied by other symptoms that can help your doctor determine the cause:
- Short-term jaundice, which is caused by an infection, may be followed by chills, fever, abdominal discomfort, or other flu-like symptoms.
- Jaundice caused by cholestasis-a disturbance in the flow of bile-may be accompanied by itching, weight loss, cloudy urine, or pale stools.
Step 3. Make sure that the person with elevated bilirubin levels does not have a rare medical condition
A variety of uncommon medical disorders can trigger elevated bilirubin and jaundice.
- Gilbert's syndrome is a genetic liver disorder. The patient lacks the liver enzymes needed to break down bilirubin. Although present at birth, the symptoms of this syndrome, including jaundice, fatigue, weakness, and gastrointestinal discomfort/pain may not appear until the teenage years.
- Crigler-Najjar disease is a very rare condition that is also caused by an enzyme deficiency. There are two types of this disease; Arias syndrome, which is the most common, can be treated so that the patient can live a normal or near normal life.
- Individuals with sickle cell anemia or other blood disorders are also at increased risk of developing jaundice.
Step 4. Limit alcohol consumption
Alcoholic beverages can damage the liver, leading to elevated bilirubin levels, so limit your consumption to the recommended daily limit (1-2 drinks per day depending on your age). Some people may be advised not to drink alcohol at all. Alcoholic beverages can damage the liver in three ways:
- By leaving excess fat in the liver cells. This condition is known as fatty liver disease. Most people who have this condition have no symptoms, but those who do can experience discomfort and fatigue.
- By causing injury and inflammation in the liver. These symptoms may indicate alcoholic hepatitis. Additional symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. Alcoholic hepatitis can sometimes improve with abstinence from alcoholic beverages. These symptoms can be caused by viral hepatitis or autoimmune hepatitis.
- By interfering with liver function. Liver cirrhosis is characterized by severe injury to the liver and impaired ability of the liver to process food and remove harmful substances from the blood.
Step 5. Maintain a healthy weight and diet
Research shows that obesity can be more dangerous than drinking alcohol. Obesity can trigger fatty liver, even in children.
- High-fiber foods are especially good for the liver, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Certain types of foods tend to damage the liver, including foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. Other foods that can damage the liver include fried foods and raw or undercooked shellfish.
Step 6. Protect yourself from hepatitis
Hepatitis A, B and C are all caused by viruses that negatively affect the liver. Avoid transmission of this disease by taking precautions:
- Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for everyone starting immediately after birth. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for people at high risk or people traveling to high risk areas.
- If you are traveling to an area of the world where hepatitis rates are high, get vaccinated before leaving.
- Hepatitis can also be transmitted through harmful habits such as the use of shared injection drugs and unprotected sex.
Step 7. Pay attention to warning instructions when taking medication
Be aware that several types of medications, including over-the-counter drugs and commonly prescribed medications such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, antibiotics, and anabolic steroids, can cause toxic hepatitis. Consult a doctor if you are in doubt if you may take drugs that are harmful to the liver.
- Some alternative medicines that are thought to improve liver health and function are actually linked to liver damage. Consult a doctor before taking alternative drugs. Some herbs that can damage the liver and are commonly consumed include green tea, kava, comfrey, mistletoe, Chaparral, and skullcap.
- The liver plays a role in breaking down the drug and the drug may cause damage in this process. Acetaminophen is the most commonly used pharmacy drug that can cause liver damage.
