10 Jaundice Symptoms

By sarah-jane

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. 'Jaundice.' NHS.uk, 30 Jan. 2018, www.nhs.uk/conditions/jaundice
• 2. Gillott, Caroline. 'Jaundice: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments.' Medical and Health Information, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165749#symptoms
• 3. 'Jaundice.' Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/jaundice
• 4. 'Stools - Pale or Clay-colored.' MedlinePlus - Health Information from the National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003129.htm
• 5. 'Common Characteristics of Liver Disease.' Johns Hopkins Medicine, Based in Baltimore, Maryland, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/common-characteristics-of-liver-disease
• 6. Bassari, Ramez, and Johnathan B. Koea. 'Jaundice Associated Pruritis: A Review of Pathophysiology and Treatment.' PubMed Central (PMC), Feb. 7, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4316083/
• 7. Suely Falcão de Oliveira Melo, Norma, et al. 'Green Teeth Resulting from Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: Report of a Case.' ScienceDirect.com | Science, Health and Medical Journals, Full Text Articles and Books, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031393914003199

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Jaundice is a medical condition that primarily affects the color of the skin and eyes. It's caused by a buildup in the blood of a substance called bilirubin. There are several signs and symptoms, both common and less-typical, associated with jaundice.

Jaundice is fairly common in newborn babies. While it often resolves by itself, parents should consult a doctor if their baby is jaundiced. For adults, there are a range of possible causes of bilirubin buildup leading to jaundice, including problems with the gallbladder, pancreas, liver or blood. People should seek prompt medical advice if they notice jaundice.¹‘Jaundice.’ NHS.uk, 30 Jan. 2018, www.nhs.uk/conditions/jaundice

Yellow Skin

One of the most common symptoms of jaundice is discolored skin that has a yellowish tinge. The abnormal color may darken to shades of brown and become more noticeable as jaundice worsens. People commonly notice this discoloration on the face and head first, although yellowing of the skin can occur anywhere on the body.

Bilirubin is a yellow-colored pigment that is naturally present in red blood cells. When cells die, the liver filters waste bilirubin out of the blood. When the liver is unable to effectively remove the substance, it builds up in the body and its distinct color is visible through the skin.²Gillott, Caroline. ‘Jaundice: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments.’ Medical and Health Information, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165749#symptoms