Final answer:
Pathologic jaundice differs from physiologic jaundice in that it is associated with an underlying health condition, causing excessive production of bilirubin or a failure to effectively process it, while physiologic jaundice occurs naturally in newborns and resolves as the liver matures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pathologic jaundice and physiologic jaundice are both characterized by a yellowing of the skin and eyes due to the accumulation of bilirubin. However, they differ in their causes and implications for health.
Physiologic Jaundice
Physiologic jaundice is a normal condition often seen in newborns, where there is a temporary increase in the levels of unconjugated bilirubin due to the immature liver's inability to process it all. It generally resolves itself within a few days to two weeks as the baby's liver becomes more efficient at processing bilirubin.
Pathologic Jaundice
In contrast, pathologic jaundice occurs when there is an underlying disease or condition that causes excessive production of bilirubin or prevents the liver from processing it correctly. It can be divided into different types:
- Preheptatic jaundice: caused by excessive hemolysis leading to high levels of unconjugated bilirubin.
- Infective or hepatic jaundice: due to liver damage from factors like alcoholism, toxins, viral or bacterial infections, which can lead to elevated levels of both conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin and more urobilinogen in the urine.
- Obstructive jaundice: resulting from biliary obstruction, increasing conjugated bilirubin in the blood.
- Chronic idiopathic jaundice: an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by excessive excretion of bile pigments in the urine.
Unlike physiologic jaundice, pathologic jaundice indicates the presence of a significant health issue that requires medical attention to address the underlying cause.