Is adult jaundice difficult to treat?

The difficulty of treating jaundice in adults depends on the cause. Timely diagnosis and targeted treatment are key. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes caused by impaired bilirubin metabolism. Common causes include liver disease, biliary obstruction, hemolytic disease, etc. Treatment requires medication, surgery, or lifestyle adjustments based on the specific cause.

1. Jaundice caused by liver disease, such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease or cirrhosis, requires treatment targeting the cause. Viral hepatitis can be treated with antiviral drugs such as entecavir and tenofovir; alcoholic liver disease requires abstinence and liver protection drugs such as polyene phosphatidylcholine; patients with cirrhosis need to control complications, such as using diuretics to reduce ascites.

2. Jaundice caused by bile duct obstruction, such as gallstones, bile duct cancer or pancreatic cancer, requires the removal of obstruction. Gallstones can be removed by endoscopic retrograde pancreaticobiliary cholangiopancreatography (ERCP); bile duct cancer or pancreatic cancer requires surgical removal of the tumor, supplemented by chemotherapy or radiotherapy if necessary.

3. Hemolytic diseases such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia or hereditary spherocytosis require suppression of hemolytic reactions. Glucocorticoids such as prednisone can be used, and splenectomy is required in severe cases.

4. Lifestyle adjustment plays an auxiliary role in the treatment of jaundice. Avoid high-fat and high-sugar foods in your diet, and increase foods rich in vitamins and fiber, such as green leafy vegetables and fruits; moderate exercise can help improve liver function, such as walking, yoga, etc.

The treatment of jaundice in adults requires the identification of the cause and the adoption of targeted measures, combined with medication, surgery and lifestyle adjustments, which can be effectively controlled in most cases. Early diagnosis and standardized treatment are the key to improving prognosis, and patients should actively cooperate with regular checkups to avoid worsening of the disease.