Jaundice: Symptom and Causes

Symptoms

The most pervasive sign of jaundice is a yellow tinge to the skin and sclerae (whites of the eyes). This usually starts at the head and spreads down the body.

Other symptoms of jaundice include:
  • Pruritis (itchiness)   
  • Fatigue                                 
  • Abdominal pain
  • Weight loss
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Paler than usual stools
  • Dark urine

Causes

Jaundice occurs if there is a dysfunction of the normal metabolism or excretion of bilirubin.
Jaundice in adults is often indicative of:
  • alcohol abuse
  • infections
  • liver cancer
  • cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
  • gallstones (cholesterol stones made of hardened fat (lipid) 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 




icterus, yellow skin, yellow nails, yellow urine, yellowish discoloration, yellow eyes, dark coloured urine, bilirubin, hyperbilirubinemia, Jaundice problems, Jaundice signs,

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