jaundice
a condition characterized by the unusual presence of BILE pigment ( BILIRUBIN ) in the blood. The bile produced in the LIVER passes into the blood instead of the INTESTINES , and because of this there is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. There are several types of jaundice: obstructive jaundice, which is caused by bile not reaching the intestine as a result of an obstruction, e.g. a GALLSTONE . haemolytic jaundice, in which red blood cells are destroyed by HAEMOLYSIS . hepatocellular jaundice, which is caused by a liver disease such as HEPATITIS , which results in the liver being unable to use the bilirubin. neonatal jaundice, which is quite common in newborn infants when the liver is physiologically immature but usually lasts only a few days. The infant can be exposed to blue light, which converts bilirubin to biliverdin, another (harmless) bile pigment.
Jaundice causes your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow. Too much bilirubin causes jaundice. 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.
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 many reasons, such as:
- Blood diseases
- Genetic syndromes
- Liver diseases, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis
- Blockage of bile ducts
- Infections
- Medicines
jaundice