Jaundice: Causes, Symptoms, & Diagnosis

Overview

Characterized by yellowing of the skin, a yellow sclera (the white part of the eyes), discolored stools, and urine, most people know when one is suffering from a bout of jaundice. But jaundice isn’t a disease. Instead, it is a symptom of an underlying illness, usually resulting in the impaired functioning of the liver, breakdown of red blood cells (RBCs), or the blockage of bile ducts. 

Here’s a better look at jaundice, its types and causes, symptoms, and treatment. 

What is Jaundice? 

Jaundice is a condition caused due to the presence of excessive bilirubin in the blood.

What is bilirubin?

It is a pigment produced as a byproduct of hemoglobin breakdown. The pigment is processed by the liver and is excreted out of the body through urine and stools after it passes through the bile duct and the small intestine. 

When the pigment isn’t cleared from the bloodstream, it causes the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes to develop a yellowish tinge. We recognize this as jaundice. 

Now that we know about the causative agent of jaundice, let’s look at the different types of jaundice and their causes. 

Types of Jaundice and Their Causes

There are three types of jaundice based on which step is impaired in the process of filtering out bilirubin. They are: 

1. Pre-hepatic jaundice

Disorders that influence the breakdown of blood cells cause pre-hepatic jaundice. They break down large numbers of red blood cells, producing large amounts of bilirubin overflowing into body tissues. Since all of this occurs before the blood can reach the liver, it is also termed pre-hepatic jaundice. 

Here are some of the common pre-hepatic jaundice causes: 

1. Haematoma reabsorption wherein a clot is broken down in a particular area
2. Haemolytic anemias destroy red blood cells before their normal turnover.

2. Hepatic jaundice

One of the most common causes of hepatic or liver jaundice is impaired liver functioning. Essentially, this occurs when the liver cannot filter out bilirubin from the blood due to underlying conditions. These commonly include conditions that cause liver damage, such as: 

1. Alcohol causes liver cirrhosis, impairing normal liver function and death of liver tissues
2. Viruses like Hepatitis A, Epstein Barr virus
3. Genetic conditions that impair liver functioning
4. Medicines like acetaminophen, chlorpromazine, etc,. that impact liver function

3. Post-hepatic jaundice

Unlike the other types of jaundice, post-hepatic jaundice occurs when the bilirubin does not drain properly into the bile ducts. This means it doesn’t pass out through the body, causing the pigment to accumulate and jaundice. The most common cause of post-hepatic jaundice is a blockage in the bile duct. That said, here are some health conditions causing post-hepatic jaundice: 

1. Gallstones which may obstruct bile ducts
2. Gall bladder swelling that impacts the flow of bilirubin
3. Gall bladder cancer

 Now that we know about the types of jaundice and what causes them, let’s take a look at the clinical features of jaundice. 

Symptoms of Jaundice

While the most well-known symptom of jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and cornea, here are some additional liver jaundice symptoms you should know of. 

• Dark-colored urine and stools – Since excess bilirubin in the body is excreted in the urine and stools, a higher-than-normal production of bilirubin will cause the urine and stools to be extremely dark. 
• Discolored stools – This is a common symptom of progressive jaundice. Many physicians prescribe you a jaundice test to confirm their diagnosis upon hearing this during the appointment. 
• High-grade fever – Although not a common symptom, many people experience high fever when suffering from a bout of jaundice caused due to infections. 
• Vomiting – Many patients experience unregulated bowel movements due to improper functioning of the liver and other gastrointestinal organs when suffering from jaundice. This causes vomiting and loss of appetite. 

Check for jaundice at Dr. Lal Pathlabs! 

If your doctor has recommended you get your bilirubin levels tested, consider doing your test at Dr. Lal Pathlabs. Our trained health professionals provide top-notch service. Besides, you can be assured of error-free results no matter where or when you get tested. Visit our website to book your bilirubin test today.