$Unique_ID{BRK01413}
$Pretitle{Ill Defined Symptoms and Rare Diseases, Blood and Blood Forming
Organs}
$Title{What is Gilbert's Disease?}
$Subject{Gilbert's jaundice}
$Volume{N, D}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What is Gilbert's Disease?


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QUESTION:  Could you please answer this question for me?  I'd like to know
what Gilbert's Disease is, and is there anything special I should be doing
about it.  I was told back in February of 1989 that my daughter had this,
after I had her to the doctor when she turned yellow with jaundice.  Thank
you.

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ANSWER:  This syndrome was once considered to be quite rare but now is known
to affect from three percent to five percent of the population.  It is more
common in boys about 4 to 1 over girls, but both sexes may have it.  Usually
first seen in childhood, it may go undiscovered until young adulthood.  Simply
stated it is the presence of a pigment called "unconjugated bilirubin" which
cause the yellow coloring or jaundice and little else.  It may be the result
of some inherited pattern of metabolism although even that is unclear.  It can
be more pronounced after exertion or infections, but actually causes no damage
to the body.  Not only is their no known cause, but there is also no treatment
either available or necessary so don't fret about not doing anything special.
The most interesting aspect of this to physicians, is that it some times is
misdiagnosed as a liver disease, and so keeps us on our toes.  The hardest
part of the treatment is to convince parents that there is really nothing
seriously wrong.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
