Introduction 

Jaundice is a term used to describe the yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
It's caused by a build-up of a substance called bilirubin in the blood and body's tissues.

Signs of jaundice
The most common signs of jaundice are:

 yellowing of the skin, eyes and the lining of the inside of parts of the body, such as the
mouth and nose (mucus membrane)
 pale-coloured stools
 dark-coloured urine

Causes of jaundice 

Jaundice is caused by a build-up of a substance called bilirubin in the blood and tissues of the
body.
Any condition that disrupts the movement of bilirubin from the blood to the liver and out of the
body can cause jaundice.

Bilirubin
Bilirubin is a waste product created when red blood cells break down. It's transported in the
bloodstream to the liver, where it's combined with a digestive fluid called bile.
This eventually passes out of the body in urine or stools. It's bilirubin that gives urine its light
yellow colour and stools their dark brown colour.

When to seek medical advice

Always seek immediate medical advice if you develop the above signs of jaundice. They're a
warning sign that something is wrong with the normal processes of your body.
Speak to your GP as soon as possible. If this isn't possible, telephone NHS 111 or contact your
local out-of-hours service.
Types of jaundice
There are three types of jaundice depending on what's disrupting the normal removal of bilirubin
from the body. They are:
 pre-hepatic jaundice – the disruption happens before bilirubin has been transported from
the blood to the liver; it's caused by conditions such as sickle cell anaemia and
haemolytic anaemia
 intra-hepatic jaundice (also known as hepatocellular jaundice) – the disruption happens
inside the liver; it's caused by conditions such asGilbert's syndrome, cirrhosis or other
liver damage
 post-hepatic jaundice (also known as obstructive jaundice) – the disruption prevents the
bile (and the bilirubin inside it) from draining out of the gallbladder and into the digestive
system; it's caused by conditions such as gallstones or tumours
Who's at risk
Intra-hepatic and post-hepatic jaundice are more common in middle-aged and elderly people than
in the young. Pre-hepatic jaundice can affect people of all ages, including children.
Certain lifestyle changes may help prevent jaundice. For example, maintaining a healthy weight,
not drinking too much alcohol, andminimising your risk of hepatitis, will all help.

Diagnosing jaundice
If you have jaundice, you'll have a number of tests to find out how severe it is and determine the
underlying cause.
You'll probably have a urine test and liver function and blood tests. If intra-hepatic jaundice or
post-hepatic jaundice is suspected, it's often possible to confirm the diagnosis using imaging tests
to check for abnormalities inside the liver or bile duct systems.
Read more about diagnosing jaundice.

Treating jaundice
Treatment for jaundice in adults and older children depends on what's causing it. This may
involve treating the underlying condition, a blood transfusion or surgery.
Read more about treating jaundice.

Preventing jaundice
It's not possible to prevent all cases of jaundice because it can be caused by a wide range of
conditions or circumstances.
However, you can take precautions to minimize your risk of developing jaundice. These include:
 ensuring you don't exceed the recommended daily amount (RDA) for
alcohol consumption
 maintaining a healthy weight for your height and build
 if appropriate, ensuring you're vaccinated against hepatitis A or hepatitis B if you're
travelling to high-risk areas of the world
 minimising your risk of exposure to hepatitis C because there's currently no vaccine for
the condition; In England, the most effective way of preventing hepatitis C is by not
injecting illegal drugs, such as heroin, or making sure that you don't share drug injecting
equipment if you do