Jaundice is a condition where bilirubin builds up in the body, causing yellowed skin and eyes. It can be caused by too many red blood cells breaking down, liver problems, or bile duct blockages. It should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
Jaundice is a condition easily recognized by its symptoms of yellowed skin and sclera (the whites of the eyes), due to a buildup of bilirubin in the body. It’s not dangerous in itself, but it can indicate potentially serious underlying conditions that should be diagnosed and treated by a doctor.
Red blood cells live about 120 days, then die and are washed through the body. In this process, bilirubin is produced when hemoglobin in red blood cells is broken down in the spleen, then transported to the liver by blood albumin. Here, most of the substance combines with the glucuronide to form conjugated or direct bilirubin, which is then absorbed into the bile and excreted in the stool. If a disorder prevents this process from completing, yellow-colored bilirubin builds up in the system until it becomes evident in the mucous membranes and skin.
By knowing how bilirubin is processed, the causes of the buildup can be narrowed down to one of three key possibilities, which create the three basic classes of jaundice:
Pre-hepatic or hemolytic: Too many red blood cells are broken down. Hepatic: The liver does not process bilirubin properly. Posthepatic or extrahepatic: Bile cannot pass properly.
Prehepatic (hemolytic) jaundice is caused by any condition or disease that accelerates the breakdown of red blood cells. Malaria is one example, and certain genetic deficiencies can create the conditions that lead to this condition, as can anemia.
The causes of liver jaundice range from acute viral hepatitis to liver disease resulting from alcoholism. Neonatal jaundice, common in newborns, is usually short-lived, lasting only about a week, and is thought to be the result of still-developing physiology. Although it is usually harmless and in most cases it passes on its own, any child showing the signs should be seen by a pediatrician. In infants, the liver sometimes takes about a week to function properly, and while the resulting yellow color is not due to disease, it is still considered hepatic because liver function is at the root of the condition.
Posthepatic (obstructive) jaundice occurs when bile fails to drain properly in the stool. Gallstones blocking the bile duct, other ductal blockages, and some types of cancer can cause this condition, which is also characterized by pale stools that lack the normal pigment contained in bile.
Anyone with yellow skin or eyes should see a doctor so the underlying condition can be diagnosed and treated.
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