Jaundice

Causes of Jaundice It is useful to divide the causes of jaundice into four general areas: • Conditions affecting the red blood cells. • Conditions affecting the liver cells. • Conditions affecting the tiny bile ducts within the liver. • Conditions affecting the common bile duct outside the liver. Conditions affecting the red blood cells Various conditions cause an increased rate of breakdown of red blood cells. As a result, there is more bilirubin made than usual (most bilirubin is made from the breakdown of haemoglobin within red blood cells) which then circulates in the blood. The liver cells are unable to keep pace in processing the extra bilirubin. Therefore, a backlog of bilirubin builds up in the blood awaiting the liver cells to process it. This increased amount of bilirubin then spills into the tissues of the body to cause jaundice. Conditions that cause an increased rate of breakdown of red blood cells include: • Some genetic diseases, such as • Haemolytic uraemic syndrome. • Conditions affecting the liver cells There are many conditions that affect the liver cells. • In some conditions the liver cells are unable to take in the bilirubin very well, so bilirubin builds up in the bloodstream. • Sometimes there is a problem with the chemicals (enzymes) within the liver cells that process the bilirubin. • Sometimes there is a problem in the way the liver cells pass out the processed bilirubin into the bile ducts. • Sometimes, the liver cells are just damaged and all p...

Overview What is jaundice? Jaundice is a condition in which the skin, sclera (whites of the eyes) and mucous membranes turn yellow. This yellow color is caused by a high level of bilirubin, a yellow-orange bile pigment. Bile is fluid secreted by the liver. Bilirubin is formed from the breakdown of red blood cells. Symptoms and Causes What causes jaundice? Jaundice can be caused by a problem in any of the three phases in bilirubin production. Before the production of bilirubin, you may have what's called unconjugated jaundice due to increased levels of bilirubin caused by: • Reabsorption of a large • During production of bilirubin, jaundice can be caused by: • Viruses, including • Alcohol. • Autoimmune disorders. • Rare genetic metabolic defects. • Medicines, including acetaminophen toxicity, penicillins, After bilirubin is produced, jaundice may be caused by obstruction (blockage) of the bile ducts from: • • Inflammation (swelling) of the gallbladder. • • Pancreatic tumor. What are the symptoms of jaundice? Sometimes, the person may not have symptoms of jaundice, and the condition may be found accidentally. The severity of symptoms depends on the underlying causes and how quickly or slowly the disease develops. If you have a short-term case of jaundice (usually caused by infection), you may have the following symptoms and signs: • • Chills. • • Flu-like symptoms. • Change in skin color. • Dark-colored urine and/or clay-colored stool. If jaundice isn't caused by an infectio...

(See also Overview of Liver Disease Liver disease can manifest in many different ways. Characteristic manifestations include Jaundice (a yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes) Cholestasis (reduction or stoppage... read more and Jaundice in the Newborn Jaundice is a yellow color to the skin and/or eyes caused by an increase in bilirubin in the bloodstream. Bilirubin is a yellow substance formed when hemoglobin (the part of red blood cells... read more .) 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 and is excreted in the bile (the digestive juice produced by the liver). 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. 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 Jaundice in the Newborn Jaundice is a yellow color to the skin and/or eyes caused by an increase in bilirubin in the bloodstream. Bilirubin is a yellow substance form...

What are some common liver disease symptoms? When diagnosing liver disease, the doctor looks at the patient's symptoms and conducts a physical examination. In addition, the doctor may request a Some common liver disease symptoms include the following, each of which are described briefly below: • Jaundice. A yellowing of the skin and eyes. • Cholestasis • Liver enlargement • Portal hypertension • Esophageal varices • Ascites. A fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity. • Liver encephalopathy • Liver failure What is jaundice? Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to abnormally high levels of bilirubin (bile pigment) in the bloodstream. Urine is usually dark because of the bilirubin excreted through the kidneys. High levels of bilirubin may be attributed to inflammation, or other abnormalities of the liver cells, or blockage of the bile ducts. Sometimes, jaundice is caused by the breakdown of a large number of red blood cells, which can occur in newborns. Jaundice is usually the first sign, and sometimes the only sign, of liver disease. What is cholestasis? Cholestasis means any condition in which bile flow is reduced or stopped. "Chole" refers to bile and "stasis" means "not moving." Bile flow may be blocked inside the liver, outside the liver, or in both places. Symptoms may include: • Jaundice • Dark urine • Pale stool • Easy bleeding • Itching • Ascites • Chills • Pain from the biliary tract or pancreas • Enlarged gallbladder Some causes o...

Overview Infant jaundice is yellow discoloration of a newborn baby's skin and eyes. Infant jaundice occurs because the baby's blood contains an excess of bilirubin (bil-ih-ROO-bin), a yellow pigment of red blood cells. Infant jaundice is a common condition, particularly in babies born before 38 weeks' gestation (preterm babies) and some breast-fed babies. Infant jaundice usually occurs because a baby's liver isn't mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some babies, an underlying disease may cause infant jaundice. Symptoms Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes — the main sign of infant jaundice — usually appears between the second and fourth day after birth. To check for infant jaundice, press gently on your baby's forehead or nose. If the skin looks yellow where you pressed, it's likely your baby has mild jaundice. If your baby doesn't have jaundice, the skin color should simply look slightly lighter than its normal color for a moment. Examine your baby in good lighting conditions, preferably in natural daylight. When to see a doctor Most hospitals have a policy of examining babies for jaundice before discharge. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that newborns be examined for jaundice during routine medical checks and at least every eight to 12 hours while in the hospital. Your baby should be examined for jaundice between the third and seventh day after birth, when bilirubin levels usually peak. If your baby is discharged earlier...

Overview A bilirubin test measures the levels of bilirubin in your blood. Bilirubin (bil-ih-ROO-bin) is a yellowish pigment that is made during the breakdown of red blood cells. Bilirubin passes through the liver and is eventually excreted out of the body. Higher than usual levels of bilirubin may indicate different types of liver or bile duct problems. Sometimes, higher bilirubin levels may be caused by an increased rate of destruction of red blood cells. Why it's done Bilirubin testing is usually one of a group of tests to check the health of your liver. Bilirubin testing may be done to: • Investigate jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by high levels of bilirubin. This test is commonly used to measure bilirubin levels in newborns with infant jaundice. • Determine whether there might be blockage in your bile ducts, in either the liver or the gallbladder. • Help detect liver disease, particularly hepatitis, or monitor its progression. • Help evaluate anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells. • Help follow how a treatment is working. • Help evaluate a suspected drug toxicity. Some common tests that might be done at the same time as bilirubin testing include: • Liver function tests. Blood tests that measure certain enzymes or proteins in your blood. • Albumin and total protein. Levels of albumin — a protein made by the liver — and total protein show how well your liver is making certain proteins. These proteins are necessary for your body to fight ...