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Jaundice definition and facts
- Jaundice is a yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and of the white of the eyes caused by elevated levels of the chemical bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinemia). The term jaundice is derived from the French word jaune, which means yellow. Jaundice is not a disease per se, but rather a visible sign of an underlying disease process.
- Jaundice is typically seen when the level of bilirubin in the blood exceeds 2.5-3 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
- Jaundice in adults can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, some of which are serious and potentially life-threatening.
- Any adult who develops jaundice needs to undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation in order to determine its cause.
- Neonatal jaundice, a condition seen in newborns, is most often a benign condition that improves without serious after effects).
See what others are saying
I"m very confused with this disease. I've being going to hospitals and no doctor can tell me what is making my bilirubin go so high. I'm at the point where I've given up on what's happening to me. I have been in three different hospitals, and they had put plasma, blood, and given me a lot of medications but no diagnosis or explanation. One of the things that I'm concerned about is that I have been getting this stomach pain, very painful when I'm going to the bathroom. This is very scary because my stool smells very bad and my eyes are orange, not yellow, my urine is worst. I cry a lot, I don"t believe in hospitals anymore and I don"t know what to do anymore.
In the beginning I noticed that I have lost almost 6 kg weight in less than 20 days without such efforts. I did not take it seriously and in the next 10 more days my weight reduced by 10 kg more. From 82 kg to 66 kg now. I was suggested to go for blood test by the doctor. It was found to be jaundice. Direct/conjugated bilirubin was 1.0 mg/dL and total bilirubin was 2.3 mg/dL. Now I am on medication. I am asked to avoid heavy meals, fried and spicy meals. I was asked to drink lot of water, sugarcane and other fruit juices.