The most visible symptom of jaundice is the yellowing of the eyes as well as a darkening of the urine. The liver processes bilirubin in the blood and converts it into bile. In patients suffering from jaundice, the inability of the liver to process bilirubin leads to an elevated level of bile in the bloodstream which causes the yellowing of the skin and eyes (Bile is yellow in color).
If you are suffering from a rather severe case of jaundice, you are also likely to experience a diminished appetite and lower energy levels. As your body recovers, you will notice that the yellow discoloration starts to subside. A renewed and normal appetite is also one of the first signs of recovery. In addition to these common symptoms you may also experience fever and nausea or vomiting, muscle aches and diarrhea. These symptoms will gradually begin to subside through the recovery stage. Throughout your illness you will probably feel lethargic and sluggish but as you recover you will start to feel restless. Although you may want return to your regular schedule, it is advisable that you remain in bed for a few more days to give your body ample time to heal. Overexerting at this stage can cause a relapse and so you should get a clean bill of health from your doctor before going back to your regular routine. The recovery stage for jaundice generally lasts for about four to six weeks although it can take as much as 12 weeks.
Jaundice severely weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of infection. For this reason it is extremely important that particular attention is paid to your diet and living conditions even during the recovery period and after. It is important that you avoid alcohol, deep fried and oily foods, and all other junk foods for a month or two at the very least even after recovery. Make it a point to eat home cooked meals that are cooked under hygienic conditions. Fruits and vegetables should form the bulk of your diet and you can also have fruit or vegetable juices as well as milk shakes. Some fruits that you should consider incorporating into your diet would include tomato, carrot, grapes, pear, lemon, and beet and sugarcane are preferable. A combination of sugarcane and lime juice is advisable as it will help hasten recovery owing to the high carbohydrate content. Make sure however that the juice is pure and made at home.
answered by S C