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Jaundice

The skin, mucous membranes, and eye whites turn yellow when someone has jaundice. It is a sign of a liver-related underlying condition or health issue. It happens when the liver becomes damaged or unable to handle the demand for processing blood waste. 

Symptoms

Common signs of jaundice include:

  • The appearance of a yellow tinge to the mucous membranes, the skin and the white part of the eyes.
  • Pale stools
  • Dark urine
  • Itchiness

In newborns, the yellowish trace can begin from the head and spread down all over the body to the toes.

Accompanying signs of jaundice may include:

Causes

The build-up of a yellow substance in your body called bilirubin causes jaundice. There are also multiple reasons for this, some of which are serious.

Some possible reasons include the following:

Jaundice

Prevention

The function of the liver relates to jaundice. Taking care of the liver through several lifestyle modifications can help.

Simple, effective modifications include;

  • Exercising regularly
  • Eating a balanced diet
  • Limiting alcohol consumption
  • Avoiding toxins from chemicals and other sources
  • Managing medications carefully
  • avoiding smoking, alcohol, and intravenous drugs
  • Don’t have more than the recommended dose of prescribed medications
  • Get proper travel vaccination before traveling
  • Practice safer sex 

Treating jaundice

The underlying cause of jaundice determines the course of treatment. 

Jaundice can cause pruritis or itching. For mild pruritis, a person can take antihistamines and warm oatmeal baths. The doctor may recommend colestipol or cholestyramine for people with moderate to severe pruritis. 

Depending on the severity of the injury, a liver transplant might be required because jaundice can sometimes signify liver damage.

To explore your health concerns in detail and receive expert advice, you can easily access our free doctor consultation service, designed to provide you with the support you need.

Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022