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Human life is a real box of surprises, even if everything seems to be 100%, if a search is made, a problem can be found. One of these “surprises” in life, which can be discovered by chance, is Gilbert’s syndrome.
What is Gilbert’s Syndrome?
Gilbert’s syndrome is a hereditary condition also known as constitutional liver dysfunction , which in most cases is discovered accidentally, such as when doing a simple routine blood test where bilirubin levels are shown to be totally high.
The syndrome affects both sexes, but studies have shown that the vast majority are related to males. Gilbert’s syndrome usually appears in late adolescence or even around 20 years of age and usually occurs with family histories or, more precisely, due to hereditary problems.
Even though it is a more common phase to occur, Gilbert’s syndrome can occur in any age group and in any stage of human life. Many times, you can live for many years without suspecting that you have the syndrome.
The main characteristic of the disease is jaundice, which leaves people with skin and eyes very yellow. It is not a serious disease and does not pose any risk to life, so there is no need for despair. Gilbert’s syndrome is not transmissible, so it does not pose a risk to people close to you.
Symptoms of Gilbert’s Syndrome
Gilbert’s syndrome is considered silent and does not usually show symptoms except the yellowish skin and eyes caused by jaundice. However, recurrent symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Severe headache
- Sickness
- Diarrhea
- Intestinal Constipation
It is not yet possible to say whether the symptoms are linked to bilirubin levels, but they are transient symptoms that can be easily controlled with some care.
In the case of women with the syndrome, it has been observed that bilirubin levels may increase due to intense menstruation, which aggravates the jaundice , leaving the skin more and more yellow.
Treatment for Gilbert’s Syndrome
Gilbert’s syndrome is a very harmless condition and that is why there is no specific treatment or one that offers a cure. However, some drugs that are metabolized by the liver should be avoided by patients with the syndrome, reducing the worsening of the organ.
Another important recommendation for patients with Gilbert’s syndrome is that they do not consume alcoholic beverages, as they can offer irreversible risks to the liver in addition to the occurrence of more serious diseases.
Causes of Gilbert’s Syndrome
Gilbert’s syndrome can be caused by several factors, among them: intense menstrual periods, very high stress, fasting, dehydration and even excessive exercise without the assistance of a specialist.
However, its main cause is heredity caused by a gene considered abnormal. This gene is responsible for controlling the enzyme that breaks down and controls bilirubin in the liver. With its irregular function, bilirubin accumulates in the blood causing yellowing of the skin and eyes and presenting itself totally irregular through complete blood counts.
People with Gilbert’s syndrome have about 30% of the bilirubinUGT enzymes working in their body, as this substance is toxic and accumulates in the body , causing an increase in the level of bilirubin.
See also: Yellow Fever: Main Symptoms and Treatments
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
