Jaundice

Jaundice is is recognised by yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes (mouth, throat, nostril etc), and whites of the eyes. It is due to excessive amounts of bilirubin in the blood, a yellow pigment created during the normal breakdown of red blood cells. Type of jaundice include pre-hepatice (caused by increased breakdown of red blood cells or ineffective bilirubin processing in the liver), hepatocellular (caused by liver damage/diseases affecting the liver cells) and post-hepatice jaundice (caused by an obstruction of the bile ducts, preventing the removal of bilirubin from the body). Causes can include cancers of the liver and pancreas, hepatitis and diseases like Gilbert’s syndrome.

• Vascular

  Obstruction of the bile ducts [1]

  Hepatic vein thrombosis [2]

• Infection

  Viral hepatitis [3]

  Hepatitis A, B, and C [4]

  Septicemia [5]

• Neoplasm

  Liver Cancer [6]

  Pancreatic Cancer [7]

• Drugs

  (Pre-hepatic) rifampicin

  (Intrahepatic) ethanol: cirrhosis

  (Post hepatic) isoniazid, chlorpromazine [8]

• iatrogenic

  Surgical complications: Postoperative complications or errors during surgeries involving the liver or bile ducts can cause jaundice.

  Medical procedures: Improperly performed procedures, such as liver biopsies, may lead to jaundice. [9]

• congenital

  Biliary Atresia [10]

• autoimmune

  Autoimmune Hepatitis [11]

• Trauma

  Initial shock

  Systemic hypotension

  Blood transfusion

  Hematoma [12]

• endocrine/metabolic

  Gilbert's Syndrome [13]

Source: Dr. Thomas F. Sellers, Emory University/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [14]

Jaundice 

Discolouration of the white of the eyes evident in a jaundice patient

Source: NHS.net [15]

Jaundice 

Black and brown skin may be less noticeable in displaying jaundice however the white part of your eyes will look yellow.

Source: NHS.net [15]

Jaundice 

Skin may turn yellow when experiencing jaundice

References

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539698/#:~:text=Bile%20obstruction%20affects%20a%20large,nausea%2Fvomiting%2C%20and%20jaundice.

[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780323636711000203

[3] https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/home/liver-and-gallbladder-disorders/hepatitis/overview-of-acute-viral-hepatitis#:~:text=(a%20yellowish%20discoloration%20of%20the,blood%20as%20it%20normally%20does.

[4] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis/#:~:text=Long%2Dterm%20(chronic)%20hepatitis,in%20your%20stools%20or%20vomit.

[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10259638/#:~:text=Sepsis%20should%20always%20be%20considered,resolution%20of%20the%20infectious%20process.

[6] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/liver-cancer/symptoms/#:~:text=Main%20symptoms%20of%20liver%20cancer&text=Symptoms%20of%20liver%20cancer%20can,and%20paler%20poo%20than%20usual

[7] https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information/managing-symptoms-and-side-effects/managing-jaundice-if-you-have-pancreatic-cancer/#:~:text=Pancreatic%20cancer%20causes%20jaundice%20by,part%20of%20the%20small%20intestine.

[8] https://gpnotebook.com/en-GB/pages/gastroenterology/drug-induced-jaundice

[9] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/329870#:~:text=Iatrogenic%20jaundice%20was%20classified,distinguishing%20among%20the%20three%20types.

[10] https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/biliary-atresia

[11] https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/autoimmune-hepatitis/

[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10342515/#:~:text=The%20main%20causes%20of%20jaundice,hematoma%20%5B7%2C8%5D.

[13] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gilberts-syndrome/#:~:text=Most%20people%20with%20Gilbert's%20syndrome,of%20your%20eyes%20looks%20yellow.

[14] https://phil.cdc.gov/Details.aspx?pid=2860

[15] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/jaundice/