Scleral Icterus Research Paper
Overview: scleral icterus is a medical condition in which there is yellowing of the white of the eyes. This is more common in patients who have liver disease. The yellow color of the eye in patients with scleral icterus can vary from a muddying to a bright yellow or an orange discoloration. scleral icterus does not cause any vision changes. Scleral icterus is not a disease in itself but a symptom of an underlying medical condition. When the underlying condition is treated, then the scleral icterus is also resolved.
Causes:
Bilirubin is a pigment that is excreted in bile and urine, and is processed by the liver. What occurs in people who have scleral icterus is that the processing system of the body to breakdown bilirubin. When red blood cells …show more content…
Fever.
Diagnosis:
A number of clinical tests are performed to check bilirubin levels in the blood together with liver enzymes. In some cases, patients have naturally dark sclera, where it can be difficult to distinguish diagnose scleral icterus. In these cases, self reporting by a patient is useful, or observation from friends and family is helpful, as they can more confidently differentiate or say whether the obvious discoloration is normal or not. Usually, people who have a darker skin tend to have a cream colored sclera, instead of white sclera.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying problem that is causing scleral citrus. As mentioned earlier, scleral icterus isn’t a disease in itself but a symptom of an underlying medical condition. When the underlying condition is treated, then the scleral icterus is also resolved. There are some medical conditions that cause jaundice and easily resolved with treatment; whereas there are some conditions that can only be managed and controlled. Patients with liver failure, in need for liver transplantation; after which the jaundice or scleral icterus is resolved. The treatment in newborns who have jaundice or scleral icterus includes phototherapy sessions which helps gradual return of the normal color of the eyes and
Causes:
Bilirubin is a pigment that is excreted in bile and urine, and is processed by the liver. What occurs in people who have scleral icterus is that the processing system of the body to breakdown bilirubin. When red blood cells …show more content…
Fever.
Diagnosis:
A number of clinical tests are performed to check bilirubin levels in the blood together with liver enzymes. In some cases, patients have naturally dark sclera, where it can be difficult to distinguish diagnose scleral icterus. In these cases, self reporting by a patient is useful, or observation from friends and family is helpful, as they can more confidently differentiate or say whether the obvious discoloration is normal or not. Usually, people who have a darker skin tend to have a cream colored sclera, instead of white sclera.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying problem that is causing scleral citrus. As mentioned earlier, scleral icterus isn’t a disease in itself but a symptom of an underlying medical condition. When the underlying condition is treated, then the scleral icterus is also resolved. There are some medical conditions that cause jaundice and easily resolved with treatment; whereas there are some conditions that can only be managed and controlled. Patients with liver failure, in need for liver transplantation; after which the jaundice or scleral icterus is resolved. The treatment in newborns who have jaundice or scleral icterus includes phototherapy sessions which helps gradual return of the normal color of the eyes and