Why jaundice

For example, if an obstructed bile duct leads to jaundice, uncontrolled bleeding may result. This is because the blockage leads a shortage of vitamins needed for clotting.

Jaundice is a common health issue in newborn infants. Around 60 percent of newborns experience jaundice, and this increases to 80 percent of premature infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Red blood cells in the body of an infant are frequently broken down and replaced. This causes the production of more bilirubin. Also, the livers of infants are less developed and, therefore, less effective at filtering bilirubin from the body.

Symptoms will usually resolve without treatment within 2 weeks. However, infants with extremely high bilirubin levels will require treatment with either a blood transfusion or phototherapy. In these cases, treatment is vital as jaundice in newborns can lead to kernicterus, a very rare type of permanent brain damage. The level of bilirubin is defined in a blood test called a bilirubin test. This measures unconjugated, or indirect, bilirubin levels.

These are responsible for the onset of jaundice. Adults and older children should have a level of between 0. If they show higher levels than this, they are usually referred for further investigation.

These ranges may differ between laboratories. Doctors will most likely use the history of the patient and a physical exam to diagnose jaundice and confirm bilirubin levels. They will pay close attention to the abdomen, feel for tumors, and check the firmness of the liver. A firm liver indicates cirrhosis , or scarring of the liver.

A rock-hard liver suggests cancer. Several tests can confirm jaundice. The first is a liver function test to find out whether or not the liver is functioning properly. If a doctor cannot find the cause, a doctor may request blood tests to check bilirubin levels and the composition of the blood. These include:. The doctor will examine the structure of the liver if they suspect an obstruction. They may also carry out an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP.

This is a procedure combining endoscopy and X-ray imaging. A liver biopsy can check for inflammation , cirrhosis, cancer, and fatty liver. This test involves inserting a needle into the liver to obtain a tissue sample.

If you're looking for information on jaundice in babies , go to the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website. Jaundice is the yellow discolouration of your skin, the whites of your eyes and body fluids. Jaundice is not a disease in itself, but is a sign of a health problem.

It may be a sign of a problem in the liver, or sometimes in the gallbladder or pancreas. Occasionally, problems with your blood can cause jaundice. In addition to a yellow discolouration of your skin and the whites of your eyes, the following symptoms can also occur with jaundice:.

Because bilirubin is processed in the liver, jaundice is usually a symptom of liver disease. This can be caused by:. Your doctor may order blood and urine tests to check your level of bilirubin and assess the health of your liver. They may also order an ultrasound scan to check for obstructions or signs of liver and pancreatic disease. In some cases, your doctor may request a liver biopsy to confirm liver disease. Treatment options depend on the cause. For example, for hepatitis A plenty of rest, drinking a lot of fluid and avoiding alcohol and medicines impacting the liver help relieve symptoms, while there are effective medications for hepatitis B and C.

For other causes, such as gallstones, a blocked bile duct or pancreatic cancer, your doctor might suggest surgery. If you need to know more about jaundice in adults, or to get advice on what to do next, talk to your doctor or call healthdirect on to speak with a registered nurse, 24 hours, 7 days a week known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Read more on Australasian College of Dermatologists website. Gilbert syndrome is a mild condition in which there is an excess of bilirubin in the blood. You may at times develop mild jaundice, with slight yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

Read more on myDr website. Read more on Better Health Channel website. Yellow fever is a viral disease which causes bleeding, jaundice, kidney and liver failure and which is primarily spread by mosquitoes.

Read more on WA Health website. Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver, with symptoms like fever, nausea, diarrhoea and jaundice. Treatment depends on the cause. See individual leaflets on the various diseases that can cause jaundice, including:. Am Fam Physician. World J Gastroenterol. Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.

Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions.

In this series. In this article What is jaundice? Understanding bilirubin - the cause of the yellow colour Jaundice causes Jaundice symptoms What assessment and tests may be done? Jaundice in newborn babies Jaundice treatment. Jaundice In this article What is jaundice?

What is jaundice? Diagram showing the liver. Bilirubin is carried around the bloodstream. As the blood flows through the liver, the liver cells take up the bilirubin.

Chemicals in the liver cells slightly alter the structure of the bilirubin to make it water-soluble. This water-soluble bilirubin is called conjugated bilirubin. The bilirubin in the blood before being taken up by liver cells is called unconjugated bilirubin. Want to see a dietician? Book a private assessment with a qualified dietician today. Book now. Previous article Gilbert's Syndrome. Next article Cirrhosis.

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