Icteria for Dummies

Icteria is a word that we use to describe something that happens in our bodies when a specific part of our system is not working properly. Do you know what the liver is? It's an important organ in our bodies that helps us digest our food and filter out harmful substances. Sometimes, our liver can become unhealthy or get damaged, and when that happens, a yellowish color can start to appear in our skin and the whites of our eyes. This yellow color is called jaundice, and icteria is another word that we use to talk about this condition.

So, when we say someone has icteria, it means that the liver is not doing its job well and they have developed jaundice. Now, this might be a bit confusing, but think of it this way: just like a traffic light turns yellow to signal caution, the yellow color of icteria is a warning sign that our liver needs some help.

Now, let me give you a little extra information. There are actually two different types of icteria that we see in people. The first type is called prehepatic icteria. This happens when something is blocking the flow of blood in the liver, causing a backup and making our skin and eyes turn yellow. It's like when a dam stops the flowing water in a river, and the water starts to collect and change color.

The second type of icteria is called intrahepatic icteria. This type happens when there is something going on inside the liver itself that is preventing it from working properly. It's like if there was a problem with the machinery inside a factory, and the whole production process gets messed up. In this case, the liver is not able to remove the yellow pigment called bilirubin from our blood, and that's why our skin and eyes turn yellow.

So, to sum it all up, icteria is a word we use to describe a condition where our liver is not working properly. It causes a yellowish color in our skin and eyes, and it's like a warning sign that our liver needs some attention and care. It can happen because of a blockage in the liver or because something is not functioning correctly inside the liver itself. I hope this explanation helps you understand what icteria means!