What is Jaundice?
Jaundice, also called Icterus, is a yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, and body fluids. It is caused by an increase in the amount of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow chemical in hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen in your red blood cells. As red blood cells break down, your body builds new cells to replace them. The old ones are processed by the liver. If the liver cannot handle the blood cells as they break down, bilirubin builds up in the body and your skin may look yellow.
Common conditions that may cause jaundice:
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Acute hepatitis (liver inflammation due to a variety of causes including hepatitis A, B, C.)
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Gilbert’s syndrome (mild inherited condition associated with decreased bilirubin)
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Cirrhosis (can cause jaundice in its late stages)
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Hemolytic anemia
Many healthy babies have some jaundice during the first week of life. It usually goes away. However, jaundice can happen at any age and may be a sign of a problem.
Jaundice can happen for several other reasons, such as:
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Blood diseases
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Genetic syndromes
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Blockage of bile ducts
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Infections
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Medicines
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)
