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Exchange
transfusion
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Hepatitis
B virus
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Jaundice
infant
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Yellow
skin, jaundice
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[Alternative
Names] [Definition]
[Common Causes]
[Considerations]
[Call
Your Health Care Provider If] [What
To Expect At Your Health Care Provider's Office] [Home
Care]
Alternative Names
eyes, yellow; icterus; jaundice; skin, yellow; yellow eyes
Definition
A yellow discoloring of the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes, caused
by too much bilirubin
in the blood.
Common Causes
- drug-induced
cholestasis (bile
pools in the gallbladder because of the effects of drugs)
- drug-induced
hepatitis (hepatitis
triggered by medications, including erythromycin sulfa drugs,
antidepressants, anti-cancer drugs, Aldomet, rifampin, steroids,
chlorpropamide, tolbutamide, oral contraceptives, testosterone,
propylthiouracil)
- pancreatic
carcinoma (cancer
of the pancreas)
- primary
biliary cirrhosis
- biliary
atresia
- ischemic hepatocellular jaundice (jaundice caused by inadequate
oxygen or inadequate blood flow to the liver)
- Gilbert's
syndrome
- Dubin-Johnson
syndrome
- intrahepatic cholestasis
of pregnancy
(bile pools in the gallbladder because of the pressure in the abdomen
with pregnancy)
- biliary
stricture
- newborn
jaundice
- hemolytic
anemia
- congenital disorders of bilirubin metabolism
- viral hepatitis (hepatitis
A, hepatitis
B, hepatitis
C, hepatitis
D, and hepatitis E)
- chronic
active hepatitis
- autoimmune
hepatitis
- obstruction of the bile ducts (by infection, tumor
or gallstones)
- malaria
Note: There may be other causes of jaundice. This list is not all
inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The
causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications.
Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected
person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as
location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors,
and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the
possible explanations for jaundice, occurring alone or in combination with
other problems.
Considerations
Jaundice is a condition produced when excess amounts of bilirubin
circulating in the blood stream dissolve in the subcutaneous
fat (the layer of fat
just beneath the skin), causing a yellowish appearance of the skin and the
whites of the eyes. With the exception of physiologic jaundice in the
newborn (normal newborn
jaundice), all other jaundice indicates overload or damage to the
liver, or inability to move bilirubin from the liver through the biliary
tract to the gut.
JAUNDICE IN AN INFANT, CHILD, OR ADULT SHOULD
ALWAYS BE MEDICALLY EVALUATED.
Newborn jaundice is common and unless associated with an abnormal
condition will clear without treatment. Another condition called Gilbert's
syndrome is a hereditary condition in which mild jaundice develops
during times of stress.
This condition, once recognized, requires no further treatment or
evaluation. All other jaundice is the result of an underlying disease,
condition, or toxicity.
A yellow-to-orange color may be imparted to the skin by excessive intake
of beta carotene,
the orange pigment seen in carrots. People who consume large quantities of
carrots or carrot juice or take beta carotene tablets may develop a
distinctly yellow-orange cast to their skin. This condition is called
hypercarotenemia or just carotenemia. Hypercarotenemia is easily
distinguished from jaundice in that the whites of the eye (sclera)
remain white, while people with true jaundice have a yellow sclera.
Call Your Health Care
Provider If
- there is any jaundice apparent.
Note: ALL JAUNDICE MUST BE EVALUATED.
What To
Expect At Your health Care Provider's Office
The medical history will be obtained and a physical
examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting jaundice in detail may include:
- Is the skin color yellow (jaundice)?
- Are the eyes yellow?
- When did the jaundice start?
- Has the jaundice occurred repeatedly (recurrent)?
- What other symptoms are also present?
Diagnostic tests that may be
performed include:
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to jaundice to your personal
medical record.
Home Care
The cause of jaundice must be determined before treatment can be given.
Follow prescribed therapy to treat the underlying cause.
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