Jaundice disease, also known as icterus that is caused by high blood bilirubin levels. It is characterized by a yellowish skin, conjunctival membranes all over the whites of the eyes and other mucous regions. When the bilirubin count goes below 1.2 mg/dL (<25µmol/L) and concentration going above 3 mg/dL (>50µmol/L) it leads to a state called jaundice.
Jaundice while pregnancy however is a relatively rare occurrence and about 3 to 5 percent of pregnant women shows up these symptoms. However, it can have severe effects on the health of both the mother and the unborn child. Here are some ways that will help you to know how to treat jaundice while pregnancy –
Ways to Treat Jaundice when you are Pregnant
Jaundice is difficult to treat as it is not a disease per se, but a combination of a few symptoms. At times pregnancy can also trigger the occurrence of jaundice in your body. But it is not a necessary reason behind jaundice. Once you are diagnosed with jaundice you ought to know which type of jaundice you have got, Hepatitis A, B, C , D, or E , based on which the treatment should be started as early as possible.
Hepatitis A
It is the most common cause of jaundice in a pregnant woman. There are certain methods to treat a patient with these symptoms like isolating the patient, maintenance of hydration and nutrition in the patient and if needed the patient should be given immune globulin. Though doctors are not quite sure that this affects the fetus too, but if the jaundice occurs during the final month of a woman’s pregnancy, then, the fetus could also be given immune globulin.
Hepatitis B
This causes acute viral hepatitis in the mother and can be transferred to the neonatal too especially those having HBs Ag-positive Therefore these newborn babies should be vaccinated once a week, then once a month and then again after six months.
Hepatitis C
This is quite difficult to treat if it is transferred to the new born baby. A therapy suitable for the kid is yet to be discovered. You cannot use Interferon either since it might affect the health of the fetus in a negative way.
Hepatitis D
Generally, Hepatitis D works alongside Hepatitis B. The combined effect of the two infections might result in acute hepatic failure of the patient.
Hepatitis E
This is probably the most dangerous of jaundice infections especially when it comes to pregnant women and their new born kids. Interestingly, this is very rare in the developed countries but in developing countries, like India for example, it is still one of the diseases that has the highest mortality rate among the mothers. It can also affect the fetus in a very severe way.
As it is, the treatment of jaundice, remains complicated, be it during pregnancy or some other time. Hepatitis vaccines are readily available and it is the safest to get a dose of this vaccine and avoid the complications of jaundice during pregnancy. In new born babies, jaundice is a common symptom, but with vaccination it can be prevented and cured.
