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Jaundice
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.
See newborn jaundice for information about jaundice in infants.
Alternative Names
Conditions associated with jaundice; Yellow skin and eyes; Skin - yellow; Icterus; Eyes - yellow
Causes
Everyday, a small number of red blood cells in your body die, and are replaced by new ones. The liver removes the old blood cells, forming bilirubin. The liver helps break down bilirubin so that it can be removed by the body in the stool.
When too much bilirubin builds up in the body, jaundice may result.
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 move through the digestive tract properly
Jaundice is often a sign of a problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. 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 too much 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 reveal liver swelling.
A bilirubin blood test will be done. Other tests vary, but 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
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal CT scan
- Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)
- Liver biopsy
- Cholesterol level
- Prothrombin time
Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause of the jaundice.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your health care provider if you develop symptoms of jaundice.
References
Lidofsky SD. Jaundice. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 20.
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
