Jaundice (Hyperbilirubinemia)- Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

A small number of red blood cells in your body die each day, and are replaced by new ones. The liver removes the old blood cells. This creates bilirubin. The liver helps break down bilirubin so that it can be removed by the body through the stool.

Jaundice can occur when too much bilirubin builds up in the body.

Jaundice can occur if:

• Too many red blood cells are dying or breaking down and going to the liver.
• The liver is overloaded or damaged.
• The bilirubin from the liver is unable to move normally into the digestive tract.

Jaundice is often a sign of a problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. Things that can cause jaundice include:

• Infections, most commonly viral
• Use of certain drugs
• Cancer of the liver, bile ducts or pancreas
• Blood disorders, gallstones, birth defects and a number of other medical conditions

Symptoms

You may not notice the yellow skin and sclera associated with jaundice. Your provider may find the condition when looking for something else. How serious your symptoms are depends on what causes them and how quickly or slowly they develop.

Symptoms that can be associated with jaundice include:

• Yellowish tint to your skin and the whites of your eyes.
• Fever.
• Chills.
• Pain in your belly.
• Flu-like symptoms.
• Dark-colored pee.
• Pale-colored poop.
• Being tired or confused.
• Itchy skin.
• Weight loss.

Diagnosing Jaundice

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They’ll then give you a physical exam to see if there’s swelling in your liver.

To get more information, your doctor will likely order blood tests to measure bilirubin and cholesterol levels and get a complete blood count (CBC). If you have jaundice, your level of bilirubin will be high. Your doctor may order other tests to find the cause of your jaundice and how severe it is, including:

• A hepatitis panel, which is a blood test that shows if you have, or have had, hepatitis. It tests for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. If there are no hepatitis antibodies in your blood, it means you don’t have the condition, or you had it in the past, but your body has cleared it.
• Tests to check enzyme levels in the liver to see how well it is functioning. If enzyme levels are higher or lower than normal, it can mean you have disease or damage to the liver or bile ducts.
• Imaging, like a CT scan, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, a type of MRI that checks for blocked ducts near the gallbladder
• A liver biopsy, to show if you have damage to, or disease in, your liver. During the test, a small piece of your liver is removed either with a needle inserted into the belly to the liver, through a vein in your neck, or through a cut in your belly.
• Prothrombin time, which measures how long it takes for blood plasma to clot. Your blood will be taken, and a laboratory will test it to see if it clots faster or slower than the normal range (which is between 10 and 13 seconds). If it clots too slowly, that may mean there are problems with your liver.

Jaundice Treatment

In adults, jaundice itself usually isn’t treated. But your doctor will treat the condition that’s causing it.

If you have acute viral hepatitis, jaundice will go away on its own as your liver heals. If a blocked bile duct is to blame, your doctor may suggest surgery to open it. If your skin is itching, your doctor can prescribe cholestyramine to be taken by mouth. This medication is used to remove bile acids from your body, which cause itching.

Phototherapy for jaundice

Phototherapy uses a fluorescent white or blue-spectrum light that breaks down bilirubin so it can be released from the body. This treatment is used for newborns, but phototherapy has not been shown to be effective for treating jaundice in adults.

Can you prevent jaundice?

Since there are many causes of jaundice, it’s hard to find ways to prevent it. Some general tips include:

• Avoiding hepatitis infection by getting vaccinated, having safe sex, using clean needles and practicing good personal hygiene like thorough hand-washing with soap and water.
• Staying within recommended alcohol limits.
• Maintaining a weight that’s healthy for you.
• Avoiding natural and herbal supplements.
• Managing your cholesterol.

Do children get jaundice?

Jaundice is common in newborn babies. Like with adults, a buildup of bilirubin in your baby’s blood can cause jaundice. Since your baby’s liver is still developing, it can’t remove (or break down) all the bilirubin. Jaundice usually goes away on its own or providers treat it with phototherapy.

When to see a Doctor?

You should see a doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of jaundice, particularly if they appear suddenly or worsen over time. Seek medical attention promptly if you experience the following:

When to See a Doctor

• Yellowing of the skin or eyes: Especially if it’s accompanied by dark urine or pale stools.
• Abdominal pain: Persistent pain, especially in the upper right side of the abdomen.
• Unexplained fever or chills: May indicate an underlying infection.
• Fatigue or confusion: Especially if it interferes with daily activities.
• Itchy skin: Severe and persistent itching, particularly when accompanied by jaundice.
• Weight loss or loss of appetite: Unexplained changes in weight or eating habits.
• Signs of liver failure: Such as swelling in the legs or abdomen, or bleeding easily.

Emergency Situations

Call a doctor or seek immediate medical care if you experience:

• Severe abdominal pain.
• High fever with jaundice.
• Sudden changes in mental state, confusion, or extreme drowsiness.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes in a newborn baby.

Early evaluation is essential to determine the cause of jaundice and initiate appropriate treatment.

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