Has childhood jaundice permanently damaged my liver?

Here is a good article on jaundice. It is important that you know why you had the jaundice, or you will not be able to determine if that condition has had any effect on your liver today. Wait for you dad to tell you what you had when you were a child, and you can go on from there:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003243.htm

If you are concerned, there are simple liver function tests (blood) that you can take.

http://www.gastromd.com/lft.html

A liver biopsy can be taken to determine if there is damage to the organ:

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/liverbiopsy/index.htm

There are a battery of diagnostic tests that can be performed on a single blood sample. They are known as 'liver profile' assays and 'hepatitis profile' assays. The liver profile will be able to determine the functioning of your liver today and determine if there was any carryover liver damage from your disease. The hepatitis profile can determine if your jaundice was caused by hepatitis A, B, or C and includes tests that determine your antibody status to indicate past exposure, and antigen status to indicate current disease.

Once your dad tells you what caused your childhood jaundice, he'll be able to advise you on whether he thinks you have any reason to have your profiles checked. It certainly isn't something to lose sleep about.

Spider, there are some G.I. physicians who specialize in the liver. A visit to one may be in order. There is a drug, Urso, that helps the liver operate in a healthy manner. There is also a generic. Both are quite expensive absent good insurance.

Oh, I had forgotten about this thread. I had consulted my father on the same day. He said it was a minor liver malfunction and medication completely eradicated it. There's nothing wrong with my hepatic portal system. I am fine. Juvenile hypochondria, you know.

Anyway, Phoenix, JPB and Advocate, I am going to study jaundice at college this year, so all this info will come handy.

spidergal- You are not alone. When I was about 12, my parents bought this book, "Modern Home Medical Advisor". It was for lay people, and described many of the common illnesses that befall mankind. (This was before the internet).

Anyhow, I read the book, from cover to cover. With each new chapter, I related the disease described with something that was going on with me. I thought that I was coming down with everything!!!

Medical students are notorious for worrying about having caught obscure ailments. A little learning is a dangerous thing.

If someone has liver concerns, it is a good idea to get the two shots for hepatitis. Contracting this when one has a damaged liver would be disastrous.

I am vaccinated for Hepatitis B.

I suggest you get the Hep A shot, also.