Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and of the white of the eyes caused by elevated levels of the chemical bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia
The term jaundice is derived from the French word jaune, which means yellow. Jaundice is not a disease per se, but rather a visible sign of an underlying disease process. Jaundice is typically seen when the level of bilirubin in the blood exceeds 2.5-3 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
Jaundice in adults
Jaundice in adults can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, some of which are serious and potentially life-threatening. Any adult who develops jaundice needs to undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation in order to determine its cause. Neonatal jaundice, a condition seen in newborns, is most often a benign
Jaundice Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Jaundice?
Jaundice, also referred to as icterus, is the yellow staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes) by abnormally high blood levels of the bile pigment, bilirubin. The yellowing extends to other tissues and body fluids and also may turn the urine dark. Yellowing of only the skin also can be caused by eating too many carrots or drinking too much carrot juice.
Jaundic , also referred to as icterus, is the yellow staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes) by abnormally high blood levels of the bile pigment, bilirubin. The yellowing extends to other tissues and body fluids and also may turn the urine dark. Yellowing of only the skin also can be caused by eating too many carrots or drinking too much carrot juice.
The bile pigment, bilirubin, comes from red blood cells. When old red blood cells are destroyed by the body (a normal process), the oxygen-carrying molecule within the cells, hemoglobin, is released into the blood. The hemoglobin is rapidly converted to bilirubin in the blood. The bilirubin is removed from the blood by the liver, modified, and excreted into the bile. The bile flows into the intestine so that the bilirubin is eliminated in the stool. (It is bilirubin that gives stool its brown color.) Jaundice can occur whenever this normal process of destruction of red blood cells and elimination of bilirubin is interrupted. This occurs when there is abnormally increased destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis), liver disease that reduces the ability of the liver to remove and modify bilirubin, or obstruction to the flow of bile into the intestine.
Jaundice is the medical term that describes yellowing of the skin and eyes. This condition 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 liver, gallbladder, or pancreas.
Symptoms of Jaundice
Yellow-tinted skin and eyes characterize jaundice. In more severe cases, the whites of your eyes may turn brown or orang-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 Manuals Consumer Version, patients who have jaundice usually have both yellow-colored skin and eyes. If you only have yellow skin, it’s more likely due to having too much beta-carotene in your system. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant found in carrots and pumpkins. 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
- liver infection
- liver cancer
- cirrhosis (scarring of the liver, usually due to alcohol)
- gallstones (cholesterol stones made of hardened fat material or pigment stones made of bilirubin)
- hepatitis (swelling of the liver that decreases its ability to function)
- pancreatic cancer
- parasites in the liver
- blood disorders, such as hemolytic anemia (a decreased amount of red blood cells in the body, which leads to fatigue and weakness)
- an adverse reaction to or overdose of a medication, such as acetaminophen
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.
