14 Symptoms of Wilson’s Disease

Wilson’s disease is a rare disease that is usually heredity and tends to show it symptoms when the sufferers are young, between 5 and 20. It is caused by the buildup of copper on the organs, such as the liver and the brain. Copper, in addition to being a metal, is an important mineral for the body. It can encourage healthy nerves, bones and skin.

Excessive copper is usually gotten rid of through the liver, but in the case of Wilson’s disease, the copper cannot leave the system, but builds up. The disease is potentially deadly if it is not diagnosed early and can affect the heart, brain and the neurological system. However, if someone is diagnosed and treated early on, they can carry on a normal life with the disease The symptoms include jaundice, neurological problems, irregular movement, fatigue, fluid buildup and anxiety.

1. Yellowing of the Skin or Jaundice

If your skin is yellow or golden colored, you may be suffering from jaundice. This condition is often the result of liver damage caused by drinking or other reasons, but it is also a symptom of Wilson’s disease when copper deposits build up on the liver. You may notice that the eyes become discolored and body fluids may have a yellow tinge as well. The majority of infants have jaundice in their first weeks of life, but this usually goes away.

If the jaundice continues, the underlying cause could be Wilson’s disease. Often this ailment is not diagnosed until the age of 5, so it may not be so clear whether jaundice in an infant could be the result of Wilson’s disease. Jaundice occurs when waste material builds up in the blood, and in the case of Wilson’s disease, this buildup is caused by an excess of copper in the liver.