Jaundice: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Too many red blood cells are dying or breaking down and going to the liver The liver is overloaded or damaged The bilirubin from the liver is unable to properly move into the digestive tract Jaundice is often a sign of a problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. Things that can cause jaundice include: Infections Use of certain drugs Cancer Blood disorders, gallstones, birth defects and a number of other medical conditions can lead to jaundice. For more information on the causes of jaundice see: Jaundice causes Symptoms Jaundice may appear suddenly or develop slowly over time. Symptoms of jaundice commonly include: Yellow skin and the white part of the eyes (sclera) -- when jaundice is more severe, these areas may look brown Yellow color inside the mouth Dark or brown-colored urine Pale or clay-colored stools Note: If the whites of your eyes are not yellow, you may not have jaundice. Your skin can turn a yellow-to-orange color if you eat a lot of beta carotene, the orange pigment in carrots.

Other symptoms depend on the disorder causing the jaundice: Cancers may produce no symptoms, or there may be fatigue, weight loss, or other symptoms Hepatitis may produce nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or other symptoms Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show liver swelling. A bilirubin blood test will be done. Other tests may include: Hepatitis virus panel to look for infection of the liver Liver function tests to determine how well the liver is working Complete blood count to check for low blood count or anemia Yellow Skin (Jaundice): Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis Your message has been sent. OK We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Close Jaundice is the medical term that describes yellowing of the skin and eyes. Jaundice itself is not a disease but it is a symptom of several possible underlying illnesses. Jaundice forms when there is too much bilirubin in your system. Bilirubin is a yellow... Read more Jaundice is the medical term that describes yellowing of the skin and eyes.

Jaundice itself is not a disease but it is a symptom of several possible underlying illnesses. Jaundice forms when there is too much bilirubin in your system. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is formed by the breakdown of dead red blood cells in the liver. Normally, the liver gets rid of bilirubin along with old red blood cells. Jaundice may indicate a serious problem with the function of your red blood cells, liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. Find an internist near you » Symptoms of jaundice Yellow-tinted skin and eyes characterize jaundice. In more severe cases, the whites of your eyes may turn brown or orange-colored. You may also have dark urine and pale stools. If an underlying health condition such as viral hepatitis is to blame for the jaundice, you might experience other symptoms, such as excessive fatigue and vomiting. Some people misdiagnose themselves when they experience yellow skin. According to the Merck Manual , patients who have jaundice usually have both yellow-colored skin and yellow-colored eyes. If you only have yellow skin, it’s maybe due to having too much beta carotene in your system.

Beta carotene is an antioxidant found in foods such as carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. An excess of this antioxidant is not a cause of jaundice. Causes of jaundice Old red blood cells travel to your liver, where they’re broken down. Bilirubin is the yellow pigment formed by the breakdown of these old cells. Jaundice occurs when your liver doesn’t metabolize bilirubin the way it’s supposed to. Your liver might be damaged and unable to perform this process. Sometimes, the bilirubin simply can’t make it to your digestive tract, where it normally would be removed through your stool. In other cases, there may be too much bilirubin trying to enter the liver at once, or too many red blood cells dying at one time.

Jaundice in adults is often indicative of: alcohol abuse cirrhosis (scarring of the liver, usually due to alcohol) gallstones (cholesterol stones made of hardened fat material or pigment stones made of bilirubin) hepatitis (disease and swelling of the liver that decreases its ability to function) pancreatic cancer parasites in the liver, which can block the excretion or removal of bilirubin from the body blood disorders, such as hemolytic anemia (the rupture or destruction of red blood cells that lead to a decreased amount of red blood cells in your circulation, which leads to fatigue and weakness) an adverse reaction to or overdose of a medication, such as an acetaminophen (Tylenol) Jaundice is also a frequent occurrence in newborns, especially in babies who are born prematurely. An excess of bilirubin may develop in newborns because their livers haven’t fully developed yet. Tests and diagnosis Your doctor will first conduct blood tests to determine the cause of your jaundice. A blood test can not only determine the total amount of bilirubin in your body, but it can also help detect indicators of other diseases such as hepatitis.

Other diagnostic tests may be used, including: liver function tests: a series of blood tests that measure levels of certain proteins and enzymes the liver produces when it’s healthy and when it’s damaged complete blood count (CBC): to see if you have any evidence of hemolytic anemia imaging studies: includes abdominal ultrasounds (using high-frequency sound waves to generate images of your internal organs) or CT scans liver biopsies: small samples of liver tissue are removed for testing and microscopic examination The severity of jaundice in newborns is generally diagnosed with a blood test. A small blood sample is taken by pricking the infant’s toe. Your pediatrician will recommend treatment if the results indicate moderate to severe jaundice. Treating jaundice Again, jaundice itself is not a disease but it’s a symptom of several possible underlying illnesses. The type of treatment your doctor recommends for jaundice depends on the cause of your jaundice. Your doctor will treat the cause of the jaundice, not the symptom itself. Once treatment begins, your yellow skin will likely return to its normal state. According to the American Liver Foundation , most jaundice cases in infants resolve within one to two weeks.

Moderate jaundice is typically treated with phototherapy in the hospital or in the home to help remove excess bilirubin. The light waves used in phototherapy are absorbed by your baby’s skin and blood. The light helps your baby’s body change the bilirubin into waste products to be eliminated. Frequent bowel movements with greenish stools are a common side effect of this therapy. This is just the bilirubin exiting the body. Phototherapy may involve the use of a lighted pad, which mimics natural sunlight and is placed on your baby’s skin. Severe cases of jaundice are treated with blood transfusions to remove bilirubin. Outlook for jaundice Jaundice usually clears up when the underlying cause is treated. Outlook depends on your overall condition. See your doctor right away as jaundice may be a sign of a serious illness. Mild cases of jaundice in newborns tend to go away on their own without treatment, and cause no lasting liver issues.

1 Scripps Health - Jaundice Articles Jaundice Jaundice is a condition produced when excess amounts of bilirubin circulating in the blood stream dissolve in the subcutaneous fat (the layer of fat just beneath the skin), causing a yellowish appearance of the skin and the whites of the eyes. With the exception of normal newborn jaundice in the first week of life, all other jaundice indicates overload or damage to the liver, or inability to move bilirubin from the liver through the biliary tract to the gut. Also known as: Conditions associated with jaundice, Yellow skin and eyes, Skin - yellow, Icterus or Eyes - yellow Definition Jaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jaundice can be a symptom of other health problems. Causes A small number of red blood cells in your body die each day, and are replaced by new ones. The liver removes the old blood cells. This creates bilirubin. The liver helps break down bilirubin so that it can be removed by the body through the stool.

Jaundice can occur when too much bilirubin builds up in the body. Jaundice can occur if: Too many red blood cells are dying or breaking down and going to the liver The liver is overloaded or damaged The bilirubin from the liver is unable to properly move into the digestive tract Jaundice is often a sign of a problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. Things that can cause jaundice include: Infections Use of certain drugs Cancer Blood disorders, gallstones, birth defects and a number of other medical conditions can lead to jaundice. For more information on the causes of jaundice see: Jaundice causes Symptoms Jaundice may appear suddenly or develop slowly over time. Symptoms of jaundice commonly include: Yellow skin and the white part of the eyes (sclera) -- when jaundice is more severe, these areas may look brown Yellow color inside the mouth Dark or brown-colored urine Pale or clay-colored stools Note: If the whites of your eyes are not yellow, you may not have jaundice. Your skin can turn a yellow-to-orange color if you eat a lot of beta carotene, the orange pigment in carrots.

Other symptoms depend on the disorder causing the jaundice: Cancers may produce no symptoms, or there may be fatigue, weight loss, or other symptoms Hepatitis may produce nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or other symptoms Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show liver swelling. A bilirubin blood test will be done. Other tests may include: Hepatitis virus panel to look for infection of the liver Liver function tests to determine how well the liver is working Complete blood count to check for low blood count or anemia Treatment depends on the cause of the jaundice. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of jaundice. References Berk P, Korenblat K. Approach to the patient with jaundice or abnormal liver tests In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 147. Wheatley MA, Heilpern KL. Jaundice In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed.

Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2014:chap 28. See also Gilbert disease is a common disorder passed down through families. It affects the way bilirubin is processed by the liver, and causes the skin to take on a... Test The bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bilirubin... Disease Delta agent is a type of virus called hepatitis D. It causes symptoms only in people who also have hepatitis B infection. Disease Malaria is a parasitic disease that involves high fevers, shaking chills, flu-like symptoms, and anemia. Disease Gallstones are hard deposits that form inside the gallbladder. Gallstones may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. Disease Dubin-Johnson syndrome is a disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which a person has mild jaundice throughout life. Disease A bile duct stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the common bile duct, the tube that moves bile from the liver to the small intestine.

Bile is a substance... Disease Pancreatic cancer is cancer that starts in the pancreas. Symptoms There are many types of eye problems and vision disturbances, such as: Halos Blurred vision (the loss of sharpness of vision and the inability to see fine... Disease A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). Disease Autoimmune hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. It occurs when immune cells mistake the liver’s normal cells for harmful invaders and attack them. Disease Hepatitis A is inflammation (irritation and swelling) of the liver from the hepatitis A virus. Special Topic Bile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile helps with digestion. It breaks down fats into fatty acids, which... Disease Cholestasis is any condition in which the flow of bile from the liver is slowed or blocked. Disease Hepatitis C is a viral disease that leads to swelling (inflammation) of the liver. Other types of viral hepatitis include: Hepatitis A Hepatitis...

Disease Hepatitis B is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Other types of viral hepatitis include... Disease Biliary atresia is a blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry a liquid called bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Disease A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. Disease The bile ducts are tubes that move bile from the liver to the small intestine. Bile is a substance that helps with digestion. All of the bile ducts together... Surgery Cataract removal is surgery to remove a clouded lens (cataract) from the eye. Cataracts are removed to help you see better. The procedure almost always... Disease Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red blood... Disease Jaundice | University of Maryland Medical Center Conditions associated with jaundice; Yellow skin and eyes; Skin - yellow; Icterus; Eyes - yellow Causes A small number of red blood cells in your body die each day, and are replaced by new ones.

The liver removes the old blood cells. This creates bilirubin. The liver helps break down bilirubin so that it can be removed by the body through the stool. Jaundice can occur when too much bilirubin builds up in the body. Jaundice can occur if: Too many red blood cells are dying or breaking down and going to the liver The liver is overloaded or damaged The bilirubin from the liver is unable to properly move into the digestive tract Jaundice is often a sign of a problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. Things that can cause jaundice include: Infections Use of certain drugs Cancer Blood disorders, gallstones, birth defects and a number of other medical conditions can lead to jaundice. For more information on the causes of jaundice see: Jaundice causes Symptoms Jaundice may appear suddenly or develop slowly over time.

Symptoms of jaundice commonly include: Yellow skin and the white part of the eyes (sclera) -- when jaundice is more severe, these areas may look brown Yellow color inside the mouth Dark or brown-colored urine Pale or clay-colored stools Note: If the whites of your eyes are not yellow, you may not have jaundice. Your skin can turn a yellow-to-orange color if you eat a lot of beta carotene, the orange pigment in carrots. Other symptoms depend on the disorder causing the jaundice: Cancers may produce no symptoms, or there may be fatigue, weight loss, or other symptoms Hepatitis may produce nausea, vomiting, fatigue, or other symptoms Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show liver swelling. A bilirubin blood test will be done. Other tests may include: Hepatitis virus panel to look for infection of the liver Liver function tests to determine how well the liver is working Complete blood count to check for low blood count or anemia jaundice - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com Random Word jaundice Jaundice is a medical condition that causes a slight yellowing of the skin.

Many newborn babies are diagnosed with slight jaundice and need to spend time in the sunlight every day for a few weeks. A patient with jaundice looks a little yellow, a condition that's caused by excess pigmentation due to deficiencies in the liver or bile duct. One common medical cause of jaundice is hepatitis, a liver condition. Another meaning of jaundice is the distortion of opinions due especially to envy or resentment: "I hope my winning another acting award won't jaundice your feelings about being in plays." The Latin root is galbinus, "greenish yellow," a color once associated with bitterness and envy. Jaundice and Viral Hepatitis - Signs and Symptoms Jaundice and Viral Hepatitis - Signs and Symptoms Search the site By Charles Daniel Updated August 01, 2016 Jaundice is when the whites of your eyes (sclerae) and possibly your skin develop a yellowish color. Jaundice is a symptom caused by a larger problem of too much bilirubin in your blood, called "hyperbilirubinemia." When you notice parts of your body turning yellow, it's time to go see a doctor, because something may be wrong.

Several things are known to cause yellow skin, and liver disease is one of the most common and important. By the way, this article addresses adult jaundice. Jaundice in babies is different . What Causes Jaundice? Jaundice is caused by too much bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment (a chemical in the body that has a color) that your body makes from old red blood cells in the spleen, an organ next to your stomach. The bilirubin then goes to the liver , where it's combined with other molecules to make bile. This is a normal process that happens every day. It's your body's way of recycling unused things, such as old red blood cells, and forming them into necessary products, such as bile. You use bile every time you need to digest fats after a meal, such as from a big steak dinner. Bile is a fluid that's essential in nutrition, because it helps break down the fats into a form the body can use. This is an important system, but it can be disrupted. If the liver becomes damaged, such as from hepatitis, it may not be able to make bile.

The body, though, is constantly breaking down old red blood cells and using the salvaged iron to make bilirubin. If the liver can't use the bilirubin to make bile, the bilirubin starts concentrating in the blood and may even leak into surrounding tissues, such as the sclerae and skin. When the tissues become overly saturated with bilirubin, it becomes noticeable as jaundice. Jaundice is a symptom of liver disease, but there are other reasons your body may develop hyperbilirubinemia. Two of these reasons are an overproduction of red blood cells and some obstruction of the liver's ducts, such as a tumor. Doctors will search for these, and other, possibilities when evaluating you for jaundice. Do I Have Jaundice? The easiest way to verify jaundice is by physical examination. Though jaundice can turn the skin a yellow tint, it's easiest to see jaundice by looking at the whites of the eyes, because bilirubin is especially attracted to the sclerae. It's often difficult to see jaundice in the sclerae, however, under fluorescent lighting.

In these instances, you may be able to better see jaundice in the tissue under your tongue. Another indicator of jaundice is a darkening of your urine. Before you can see jaundice on your skin, you need to have a certain amount of bilirubin in your blood and tissues. Normally, adults have anywhere from 0.3 to 1 mg/dL (which stands for milligrams per deciliter) of bilirubin in their blood, which is a very small amount. For comparison, a large grain of sand weighs around 11 milligrams and one deciliter is about 7 tablespoons! To actually see jaundice in your skin, you'll need at least 3 mg/dL of bilirubin in your blood. Hepatitis Symptoms Are There Tests for Jaundice? Yes, there are tests to measure the amount of bilirubin in your blood. Sometimes doctors can rule out certain causes of hyperbilirubinemia by finding out how much bilirubin is in your blood. High levels of bilirubin (anything over 7 mg/dL) are probably caused by liver disease.

Severe liver disease can cause levels as high as 40 mg/dL! Doctors usually need a combination of tests to determine which type of liver disease is causing the problem. In addition to finding out the bilirubin levels, doctors need to know prothrombin times and the levels of liver enzymes and albumin. All of these are additional blood tests. There is a urine test for bilirubin, called the "Ictotest," which (if positive) always implicates the liver as the cause of your jaundice. Do I Have Hepatitis? It's important to note that not all causes of hyperbilirubinemia are from hepatitis, or even other liver diseases. Sometimes the problem is with the blood or even a genetic disease. For these reasons, it's important for a physician to evaluate all cases of jaundice. If the doctor suspects that acute viral hepatitis is creating jaundice, you'll need blood tests to identify the viral agent. Most likely, this will include blood tests for hepatitis A IgM antibody , hepatitis B surface antigen, and core IgM antibody and a hepatitis C viral RNA test .

Since other viruses can cause acute hepatitis , you may also be tested for the Epstein-Barr virus and the cytomegalovirus. Jaundice, however, isn't a reliable symptom of acute viral hepatitis. Many people have acute viral hepatitis and never have jaundice. Types of Hepatitis Is Jaundice an Emergency? Usually not, but there are situations that can lead to an emergency. This is why it's important to have a physician evaluate all cases of jaundice. What's the Treatment for Jaundice? Jaundice is treated by correcting the problem that caused the hyperbilirubinemia. For those with acute viral hepatitis, usually no treatment is necessary because the body will clear the virus by itself. More About Treating Hepatitis Sources: Dienstag, JL. Acute Viral Hepatitis. In: AS Fauci, E Braunwald, DL Kasper, SL Hauser, DL Longo, JL Jameson, J Loscaizo (eds), Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 17e. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2008. Kumar V, Abbas A, Fausto N. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 7e.

Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2005. 885-888. Sjogren, MH. Hepatitis A. In: M Feldman, LS Friedman, LJ Brandt (eds), Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease, 8e. Philadelphia, Elsevier, 2006. 1639. Continue Reading What is jaundice? - Liver Disease Signs & Symptoms - Sharecare Liver Disease Signs & Symptoms A Dr. Deborah Raines, MSN , Nursing, answered on behalf of Honor Society of Nursing (STTI) Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin, as well as the whites of the eyes and mucous membranes. It is a consequence of the accumulation of elevates levels of bile pigments and bilirubin is the blood. It is usually a sign of an abnormality or a disease process affecting the liver. A Dr. Margaret L. Payne, MD , Pediatrics, answered Jaundice is a yellow coloring of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by increased levels of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a breakdown product of red blood cells that is usually cleared from the body by the liver.

Anything that causes decreased liver function or increase in breakdown of red blood cells can result in jaundice. As a pediatrician, newborn jaundice is the most common form of jaundice that we see. This is caused by immaturity of the liver that leads to slower clearance of bilirubin from the body. Also, inadequate fluids and calories in the first few days of life, especially in breastfed babies, increases bilirubin levels. In older patients, there are three big concerns with jaundice. First is infection which is called hepatitis. Secondly, is cirrhosis which is often from drug or alcohol abuse. Finally, obstruction of the gall bladder from gall stones or tumor can lead to jaundice. A Brigham and Women's Hospital answered Jaundice is a common temporary condition among infants. About 60% of newborns develop it, usually within three days after birth. Jaundice is a condition caused by the natural process of red-cell breakdown and an increased level of bilirubin in the baby’s blood, turning the baby’s skin yellow. As the bilirubin level in the body rises, a yellow color can develop from the baby’s face down the torso to the legs.

High levels of bilirubin can lead to a condition called kernicterus that results in neurological problems. Depending on the level of bilirubin in the baby’s blood, the baby may need phototherapy with exposure to special fluorescent lights to eliminate the bilirubin. Jaundice - associated conditions are diseases or conditions that cause yellow skin -LRB- jaundice -RRB- . Sometimes other conditions may be associated with many of the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome. I have very low blood pressure, extremely low cholesterol (total of 70), and no health conditions associated with weight. All the symptoms that can be associated with the cancer are also associated with other non serious ailments. She was to recover and go into chemo on Nov 3rd but she had difficulty breathing that day and was warded and she has jaundice too.Her eyes are both yellow and her face is too. Associated conditions - Several medical conditions and diseases are thought to coexist frequently with fibromyalgia. Yellow skin is usually associated with jaundice--a condition not necessarily occurring in leukemia. But I spoke to my dentist, who also treats TMJ conditions � he had personally never heard of dizziness associated with it?

Overview Dark urinePale or clay - colored stoolsYellow in the white part of the eyes -LRB- sclera -RRB- Yellow skinOther symptoms depend on the specific disorder : Cancers may produce no symptoms , or there may be fatigue , weight loss , or other symptomsHepatitis may produce nausea , vomiting , fatigue , or other symptoms Hello...Approximately 20 percent of persons exposed to the virus develop symptoms which may include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), fatigue, dark-colored urine, stomach pain, loss of appetite and nausea. Symptoms All jaundice - associated conditions need to be diagnosed and treated . The health problems associated with having a foreskin, are a bit less than the health problems associated with not having a foreskin. I don't know what color the fluid drained off should be, but I can tell you jaundice is a sign of liver problems, and swelling in the abdomin, feet and ankles usually is associated w/more severe cases. In some cases , you will only need observation , but always talk to your health care provider . Treatment Jaundice is a sign of liver , gallbladder , or certain blood disorders .

htm Quote: Jaundice can be caused by too many red blood cells retiring, by the liver being overloaded or damaged, or by the inability to move processed bilirubin from the liver through the biliary tract to the gut The skin and the eyes become yellow due to the buildup of bilirubin in the skin and " white " of the eye -LRB- sclera -RRB- .Conditions associated with jaundice include : Hepatitis : Autoimmune hepatitisHepatitis due to the effects of drugs -LRB- drug - induced hepatitis -RRB- Jaundice caused by reduced oxygen or blood flow to the liver -LRB- ischemic hepatitis -RRB- Viral hepatitis -LRB- hepatitis A , hepatitis B , hepatitis C , hepatitis D , and hepatitis E -RRB- Gallbladder and bile duct disorders : Biliary atresiaBlockage of the bile ducts -LRB- by infection , tumor , biliary stricture or gallstones -RRB- Gallbladder and bile duct cancersPrimary biliary cirrhosisLiver disorders : Bile pools in the liver because of the effects of drugs -LRB- drug - induced cholestasis -RRB- CirrhosisCongen

ital disorders of bilirubin metabolismDubin - Johnson syndromeGilbert diseaseOther causes : Bile pools in the liver during pregnancy -LRB- intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy -RRB- Newborn jaundicePancreatic carcinoma My liver function is still off the charts, but viral hepatitis A,B,C as well as mono have been ruled out- the only thing I have for sure is jaundice (which seems to be improving as of today) and I feel much better after a few days of rest Causes Physical examination will show : JaundiceLiver swelling -LRB- possibly -RRB- Specific tests vary , but will include blood liver function tests to determine how well the liver is working.Other tests may include : Abdominal CT scanAbdominal ultrasoundCT scan - directed biopsyEndoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography -LRB- ERCP -RRB- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram -LRB- PTCA -RRB- Tests & diagnosis Jaundice in Adults - Liver and Gallbladder Disorders - Merck Manuals Consumer Version Liver and Gallbladder Disorders Find information on medical topics, symptoms, drugs, procedures, news and more, written in everyday language

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* This is the Consumer Version. * (See also Overview of Liver Disease .) In jaundice, the skin and whites of the eyes look yellow. Jaundice occurs when there is too much bilirubin (a yellow pigment) in the blood—a condition called hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin is formed when hemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen) is broken down as part of the normal process of recycling old or damaged red blood cells. Bilirubin is carried in the bloodstream to the liver, where it binds with bile. Bilirubin is then moved through the bile ducts into the digestive tract, so that it can be eliminated from the body. Most bilirubin is eliminated in stool, but a small amount is eliminated in urine. If bilirubin cannot be moved through the liver and bile ducts quickly enough, it builds up in the blood and is deposited in the skin. The result is jaundice. Many people with jaundice also have dark urine and light-colored stool. These changes occur when a blockage or other problem prevents bilirubin from being eliminated in stool, causing more bilirubin to be eliminated in urine.

If bilirubin levels are high, substances formed when bile is broken down may accumulate, causing itching all over the body. But jaundice itself causes few other symptoms in adults. However, in newborns with jaundice high bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia) can cause a form of brain damage called kernicterus. Also, many disorders that cause jaundice cause other symptoms or serious problems. These symptoms may include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, and small spiderlike blood vessels that are visible in the skin (spider angiomas). Men may have enlarged breasts, shrunken testes, and pubic hair that grows as it does in women.

Serious problems can include Coagulopathy: A tendency to bleed or bruise Hepatic encephalopathy : Deterioration of brain function because the liver malfunctions, allowing toxic substances to build up in the blood, reach the brain, and cause changes in mental function (such as confusion and drowsiness) Portal hypertension : High blood pressure in the veins that bring blood to the liver, which can lead to bleeding in the esophagus and sometimes stomach If people eat large amounts of food rich in beta-carotene (such as carrots, squash, and some melons), their skin may look slightly yellow, but their eyes do not turn yellow. This condition is not jaundice and is unrelated to liver disease. Did You Know... Eating too many carrots can make the skin look yellow, but this effect is not jaundice. Causes of Jaundice Jaundice has many causes.

Most causes involve disorders and drugs that Damage the liver Interfere with the flow of bile Trigger the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis), thus producing more bilirubin than the liver can handle View of the Liver and Gallbladder The portal vein receives blood from the entire intestine and from the spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder and carries that blood to the liver. After entering the liver, the portal vein divides into right and left branches and then into tiny channels that run through the liver. When blood leaves the liver, it flows back into the general circulation through the hepatic vein. The most common causes of jaundice are A blockage of a bile duct by a gallstone (usually) or tumor A toxic reaction to a drug or medicinal herb Hepatitis Hepatitis damages the liver, making it less able to move bilirubin into the bile ducts. Hepatitis may be acute (short-lived) or chronic (lasting at least 6 months). It is usually caused by a virus. Acute viral hepatitis is a common cause of jaundice, particularly jaundice that occurs in young and otherwise healthy people. Sometimes hepatitis is caused by an autoimmune disorder or use of certain drugs.

When hepatitis is caused by an autoimmune disorder or a drug, it cannot be spread from person to person. Alcoholic liver disease Drinking large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time damages the liver. The amount of alcohol and time required to cause damage varies, but typically, people must drink heavily for at least 8 to 10 years. Other drugs, toxins, and some herbal products can also damage the liver (see Table: Some Causes and Features of Jaundice ). Bile duct obstruction If the bile ducts are blocked, bilirubin can build up in the blood. Most blockages are caused by a gallstone, but some are caused by cancer (such as cancer in the pancreas or bile ducts) or rare liver disorders (such as primary biliary cholangitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis ). Other causes of jaundice Less common causes of jaundice include hereditary disorders that interfere with how the body processes bilirubin. They include Gilbert syndrome and other, less common disorders such as Dubin-Johnson syndrome. In Gilbert syndrome, bilirubin levels are slightly increased but usually not enough to cause jaundice. This disorder is most often detected during routine screening tests in young adults.

It causes no other symptoms and no problems. Evaluation of Jaundice Jaundice is obvious, but identifying its cause requires a doctor's examination, blood tests , and sometimes other tests. Warning signs Use of a substance that can cause jaundice A doctor's examination *Features include symptoms and results of the doctor's examination. Features mentioned are typical but not always present. †Doctors typically measure bilirubin levels in the blood and do blood tests to determine how well the liver is functioning and whether it is damaged (liver function tests) and to assess the blood’s ability to clot. CT = computed tomography; ERCP = endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; G6PD = glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase; MRCP = magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging. Testing Tests include the following: Blood tests to evaluate how well the liver is functioning and whether it is damaged (liver function tests) Usually imaging tests such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Sometimes biopsy or laparoscopy Liver function tests (also called liver enzyme tests) involve measuring blood levels of enzymes and other substances produced by the liver.

These tests help doctors determine whether the cause is liver malfunction or a blocked bile duct. If a bile duct is blocked, imaging tests, such as ultrasonography, are usually required. Other blood tests are done based on the disorder doctors suspect and the results of the examination and the initial tests. They may include Tests to assess the blood's ability to clot (prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time) Tests to check for hepatitis viruses or abnormal antibodies (due to autoimmune disorders) A complete blood count Blood cultures to check for infection of the bloodstream Examination of a blood sample under a microscope to check for excessive destruction of red blood cells If imaging is needed, ultrasonography of the abdomen is often done first. It can usually detect blockages in the bile ducts. Alternatively, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be done. If ultrasonography shows a blockage in a bile duct, other tests may be needed to determine the cause. Typically, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography ( MRCP ) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ( ERCP ) is used.

MRCP is MRI of the bile and pancreatic ducts, done with specialized techniques that make the fluid in the ducts appear bright and the surrounding tissues appear dark. Thus, MRCP provides better images of the ducts than conventional MRI. For ERCP, a flexible viewing tube (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth and into the small intestine, and a radiopaque contrast agent is injected through the tube into the bile and pancreatic ducts. Then x-rays are taken. When available, MRCP is usually preferred because it is just as accurate and is safer. But ERCP may be used because it enables doctors to take a biopsy sample, remove a gallstone, or do other procedures. Occasionally, liver biopsy is needed. It may be done when certain causes (such as viral hepatitis, use of a drug, or exposure to a toxin) are suspected or when the diagnosis is unclear after doctors have the results of other tests. Laparoscopy may be done when other tests have not identified why bile flow is blocked. For this procedure, doctors make a small incision just below the navel and insert a viewing tube (laparoscope) to examine the liver and gallbladder directly.

Rarely, a larger incision is needed (a procedure called laparotomy). Treatment of Jaundice

Question: What skin and eye colouring is associated with jaundice?
Answer: Yellow