What Is Jaundice? Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Explained
Yellowing of the skin and eyes can be alarming and for good reason. It's often the first visible sign that something inside the body, usually the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas, needs medical attention. This guide answers What Is Jaundice , why it happens, and how it is diagnosed and treated, so you know when it's time to see a specialist. What Is Jaundice? Jaundice is a medical condition in which the skin, the whites of the eyes (sclera), and mucous membranes turn yellow due to a build-up of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment formed when old red blood cells break down. Normally, the liver processes bilirubin and removes it from the body through bile. When this process is disrupted whether in the liver, the bile ducts, or even before bilirubin reaches the liver it accumulates in the blood and deposits in body tissues, producing the classic yellow discoloration. Jaundice itself is not a disease; it is a symptom of an underlying problem, and iden...