Understanding Jaundice: Bilirubin Count 1.42 Concerns

Based on the complaints and elevated bilirubin levels you seem to be suffering from a type of liver disorder, a condition wherein excess accumulation of bilirubin (a brown yellow coloured compound formed in breaking down of red blood cells) occurs. With loss of appetite, vomiting, stomach tightness and bloating; fever, extreme fatigue and abdominal pain can also be seen in liver diseases.

• There are multiple causes for development of liver dysfunction such as infection, autoimmune liver diseases like cholangitis, Wilson’s disease, cancer, alcoholic liver (due to alcohol abuse) and non-alcoholic (due to excessive consumption of fats) and drug induced.

• When using a medicine that is known to have the potential to cause liver damage, your doctor may recommend you to have blood tests done on a routine basis after starting the medication so that any signs of liver damage may be recognised before symptoms develop.

• Common medications that can cause damage to the liver include Paracetamol, Statins – drugs for lowering cholesterol levels and certain herbs.

• Other liver function parameters such as AST(aspartate aminotransferase), ALT(alanine transaminase), ALP(alkaline phosphatase) and GGT(gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) bilirubin are required to be evaluated and additional to this for determining the exact cause of dysfunction especially to confirm presence of jaundice; urinalysis, CT (for distinguishing between biliary obstruction and liver disease including cancer) and liver biopsy (for ruling out concern about possible liver cancer) needs to performed.

• The treatment is based on the underlying cause and damage levels and can range from dietary changes, medications such as antibiotics, sedatives, etc to liver transplants.

• Based on the complaints, your mother is suffering from a disease associated with the liver function.

• Any disruption in liver function that produces ailment which is referred to as liver disease. The liver is in charge of several vital activities in the body, and if it becomes ill or damaged, the loss of such functions can cause serious harm to the body. Hepatic disease is another name for liver disease.

• Along with fever, vomiting, loss of appetite and extreme fatigue, stomach tightness bloating, abdominal pain can also be seen in individuals with liver diseases.

• Further investigations and procedures will provide you with a clarity.

• Laboratory investigations include AST(aspartate aminotransferase), ALT(alanine transaminase), ALP(alkaline phosphatase) and GGT(gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) Total Albumin, Lactic Dehydrogenase, Alpha protein, 5’nucleotide, mitochondrial antibody and PTT levels and procedures such as CT scan, MRI (for liver tissue damage) and biopsy (in case of chance of any cancerous growth).

• Infection, autoimmune liver illnesses such as cholangitis, Wilson's disease, cancer, alcoholic liver (due to alcohol overuse), non-alcoholic liver (due to excessive fat consumption), and drug-induced liver dysfunction are all possible causes of liver dysfunction.

• Lifestyle and diet changes can help in to reduce the further damage of liver.