Juvenile Hyperbilirubinaemia

Overview

Juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia is from the etiological aspect a heterogeneous group and affects in particular theadolescent population. The prevalence of juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia is relatively high, in the adolescentpopulation 2 - 6%, with a predominance of boys. It comprises quite benign entities such as Gilbert’s syndrome,but under the symptomatology of isolated hyperbilirubinaemia in the initial stage also conditions with a progressiveaffection of the liver may develop such as Wilson’s disease, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency or low score chronichepatitis. The task of the physician after diagnosis of juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia is to confirm the hepatic typeof jaundice and during a longitudinal follow up make a more accurate diagnosis of isolated hyperbilirubinaemiain adolescents. During the time needed to make a more accurate diagnosis various lifestyle measures are necessarywhich may interfere with strenuous sports activities in adolescent patients, with their vocational training and itsselection.

Key words:
juvenile hyperbilirubinaemia, Gilbert’s syndrome, adolescents