Yellow whites of the eyes are considered an important sign that is able to indicate damage to the internal organs of a person. A change in the color of the eye proteins is a serious reason for immediately seeking medical help, as this can be one of the early symptoms of certain diseases. This is a sign of viral hepatitis, inadequate liver function, infectious diseases, and also conjunctival malignancies. In addition, yellowness of the sclera is often observed with the appearance of some pathologies associated with the gallbladder, as well as biliary tract.
There are many reasons for the yellow sclera of the eyes in a child and an adult. We will analyze the most common of them.
Liver problems
The yellow color of the eye proteins in certain cases can be explained by an increase in the level of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a kind of enzyme that includes red blood cells. Its decay leads to the appearance of yellowish spots. This enzyme is formed by the liver, for this reason the presence of yellowness of the eye proteins can be explained by liver disease. A visit to the doctor in this case is needed, since failures in the work of the said body negatively affect the state of health in general. After all, the liver is the main filter of the body, and its defeat leads to general intoxication.
Hepatitis that causes a similar disease
Among the lesions of the liver, the main signs of which is sclera yellowness, it should be noted hepatitis A, B, C and D. Each of the mentioned types is considered a rather unsafe condition. However, especially often, yellowing of the eye protein is caused by hepatitis A, popularly referred to as jaundice.
Jaundice is the result of staining of tissue structures of the body, including sclera, with bilirubin (yellow pigment). It should be understood that bilirubin is a metabolic product and a special poison for the body. The breakdown of this substance provokes the development of negative processes, primarily in the human nervous system.
For the reasons due to which yellowing of the eye proteins is observed, in addition, there may be opisthorchiasis or echinococcosis - diseases initiated by liver damage by parasitic worms. No less dangerous is hepatitis C. Everyone knows what it is. After all, such a liver disease is difficult to treat.
Jaundice of the newborn
A couple of days after the birth of the skin, as well as the whites of the eyes of the child acquire a yellowish tone. This condition is caused by a supersaturation of the fetal blood with a huge number of red blood cells during intrauterine formation. After the birth of so many red blood cells, the body no longer needs it, for this reason some of them begin to split.
Newborn jaundice is the result of the accumulation of red blood cell destruction products. After 7 or 10 days, the yellowness of the skin and eye proteins decreases. If this does not happen, there is reason to assume that the newborn develops pathology.
Pterygium and pingvekula
If the sclera of the eyes is yellow, and the liver is in order, then it is worth paying attention to the following pathology. The yellowness of the eyes, in addition to various liver diseases, can accompany pterygium and pingvekul.
Pingvekula is a special wen in the eye area, which often has a yellowish color. This condition is caused by a change in lipid metabolism in the body. As a rule, drug therapy of this kind of pathology does not give a positive result. For this reason, surgical intervention is prescribed to specifically eliminate the disease.
Pterygium is called an increase in the conjunctiva, which over time "approaches" the cornea, staining it in a yellow tint. Similar manifestations in the early stages are also treated with surgery.
Malignant neoplasms
In addition to the diseases listed above, the yellowness of the eye protein can cause the formation of various kinds of conjunctival malignancies. The more common of these is melanoma. Identifying melanoma is not easy. For this reason, having noticed the syndrome of "yellow eye", you should immediately go to a professional without self-medication. Only a qualified doctor is able to make a clear diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.
There are a lot of reasons that cause yellowness of the eye, including infections or manifestations of subconjunctival hemorrhages. For this reason, if a person detects yellow proteins in himself, in each individual case, you should immediately seek the help of a professional. After all, this, at first glance, a harmless and not constantly exciting sign, can be a manifestation of a very serious illness.
Who heals
Therapist and optometrist are involved in the treatment of such manifestations. Having made additional blood and urine tests, the doctor will establish the correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment. Alone yellow shade will not disappear.
Diagnostic Methods
It is quite difficult to find the root cause of yellowing of the sclera of the eyes, since there are many conditions that affect this manifestation. During the examination, a specialist can use commonly used methods for establishing disease factors:
- Medical. Obtaining an anamnesis and examination of the patient. In liver diseases, a general indicator is an increase in organ size. Complications of the general condition, decreased ability to work, upset stool, etc. may appear depending on the direction of the process.
- Severe signs are also observed in blood diseases. General morbid condition, high fever, fever, tachycardia and other signs of intoxication. If the color change of proteins occurs due to a failure of metabolism or pathology in the bile ducts, then in such a situation the general condition of the body is immediately aggravated, signs of intestinal infection appear, the color of urine and feces changes, seizures are permissible. With pancreatitis, a characteristic indicator is, among other signs, pain in the middle part of the abdomen, which in some cases covers the entire abdomen.
- Beam. Ultrasound and CT scan of the abdominal cavity. Such technologies make it possible to more clearly establish the localization of the pathological process in case of probable tumors or compression of the bile ducts. In some cases, such examination methods allow you to make only a presumptive diagnosis, and in order to clarify it, a biopsy is performed - a sample of liver tissue is taken with a special syringe. The resulting material is used for subsequent laboratory studies.
- Laboratory studies of blood, feces and urine. With hepatic pathologies in the blood test, the following changes are allowed: a decrease in the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin, an increase in the content of bilirubin, cholesterol, etc.
Treatment
Depending on the results of the studies done, the doctor is able to formulate a scheme of therapeutic measures that have maximum effectiveness in a particular pathology. So, if a child or an adult has yellow sclera of the eyes, what should I do?
For any category of diseases, there are proven technologies for conservative or surgical treatment:
- Pathology of the liver. Conservative methods are used mainly (a rare case of cancer or echinococcosis). Such diseases are treated with the complex use of antiviral, antiparasitic, bactericidal agents. Substances used to restore the functions of liver cells (hepatoprotectors), choleretic drugs, detoxification drugs and antidotes are used.
- Blood pathology. Conservative therapy is used. If malaria has been diagnosed, the disease can be treated with etiotropic substances. Some types of diseases are not completely cured. For this reason, in addition to symptomatic therapy, blood transfusion is considered the main tool.
- Problems of the biliary tract. Drug therapy is used in the early stages of the disease, if it is acceptable to prevent duct obstruction with symptomatic or etiotropic drugs. But in advanced situations with the formation of stones or in the presence of tumors, surgery is inevitable.
- Pathology of the metabolism process. Therapy consists in taking substances that provide the removal of toxins from the body, as well as helping to cleanse some organs.
- Different types of pancreatitis (in the acute stage). First of all, spend daily fasting. It leads to a decrease in the production of gastric secretion and an increase in the fermentation of the pancreas itself. For treatment, specialized substances are used to increase the production of enzymes, painkillers and proteolysis inhibitors.
- Parasitic diseases are treated with the use of metronidazole, chingamine, etc. Therapy with folk remedies is widespread - pumpkin seeds, garlic, onions, pine nuts, herbs.
Oncological neoplasms are removed surgically after chemotherapy has been performed in advance. If metastases are large, then treatment is carried out, which is a means of slowing down the process.
Preventive actions
It is also important to pay increased attention to tips on the prevention of yellowing of the sclera of the eyes in people of different ages:
- You should adhere to a diet that excludes alcohol, smoked, salted, fried, flour.
- Balance sleep, rest and activity (sleep for at least 8 hours).
- Set intervals when working with a PC and do eye exercises.
- Taking multivitamin complexes and specialized eye vitamins will help to avoid many problems.
The main preventive measure to avoid various diseases is considered to be immunity care, which consists in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Total
In order not to raise the question of which doctor to consult with yellow sclera of the eyes, you should carefully monitor your health, as well as observe all necessary preventive measures for such a problem. And in this case, the problem will not bother you.