Gilbert’s disease is a hereditary disease of the metabolism. It reduces the normal metabolism of bilirubin, a decomposition product of hemoglobin, which is known as the red blood pigment. The result is an elevated level of bilirubin in the body. The disease is normally mild and does not need any treatment.
Gilbert’s disease is an autosomal-recessive hereditary disorder. This means that affected persons must have inherited an abnormal gene from both parents. Gilbert’s disease will affect the normal metabolic degradation of bilirubin and thereby lead to generally elevated bilirubin levels. Under circumstances that increase formation of bilirubin, it will lead to an accumulation of bilirubin in the body. As a result, the skin may turn yellow (jaundice). In Gilbert’s disease this is not known to cause any complications.
The cause of Gilbert’s disease is an abnormal gene inherited through both parents. It is autosomal-recessive, which means that both genes (paternal and maternal) need to be abnormal in order to cause the disease. People with a respective family history may have a higher risk of getting the disease. Affected persons are born with the disease but it is usually discovered accidentally. For example, Gilbert’s disease is usually found in a blood test which indicates an abnormal level of bilirubin. Gilbert’s disease affects the degradation of bilirubin, which is an intermediate product in the degradation process of hemoglobin. In combination with an increased formation of bilirubin, this inefficient metabolism will cause an accumulation of bilirubin in the body, and as a result, either the skin or the sclera may turn yellow. The yellow skin or sclera is called jaundice or icterus. Besides, people with Gilbert’s disease normally hove none or only mild symptoms such as fatigue. The following conditions can increase the level of bilirubin: 1) any inflammatory and inflectional illness, 2) dehydration, 3) menstruation, 4) stress, 5) strenuous exercise, and 6) lack of sleep. Besides bilirubin, the reduced metabolism may also affect the degradation of certain medications.
Gilbert’s disease usually does not need any treatment. People with the disease will not always have jaundice, only under conditions that increase the level of bilirubin in the body. The symptoms may come and go, but will not cause any complications.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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