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You are here: Home > Health A to Z > Jaundice-associated conditions



Jaundice-associated conditions

Definition
Treatment
Alternative Names
Expectations (prognosis)
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Complications
Symptoms
Calling your health care provider
Signs and tests
Prevention


Jaundice
Jaundice
Jaundice infant
Jaundice infant
Cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis of the liver

 Definition  

Jaundice-associated conditions are diseases or conditions that cause yellow skin (jaundice).

 Alternative Names  

Conditions associated with jaundice

 Causes, incidence, and risk factors  

Jaundice is a symptom of liver and gallbladder disorders. The skin and the eyes become yellow due to the buildup of bilirubin in the skin.

Jaundice-associated conditions include:

  • Autoimmune hepatitis
  • Biliary atresia
  • Blockage of the bile ducts (by infection, tumor, biliary stricture or gallstones)
  • Cirrhosis
  • Congenital disorders of bilirubin metabolism
  • Drug-induced cholestasis (bile pools in the liver because of the effects of drugs)
  • Drug-induced hepatitis
  • Dubin-Johnson syndrome
  • Gilbert disease
  • Hemolytic anemia
  • Ischemic hepatitis (jaundice caused by reduced oxygen or blood flow to the liver)
  • Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (bile pools in the liver)
  • Malaria
  • Newborn jaundice
  • Pancreatic carcinoma
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Viral hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, and hepatitis E)

 Symptoms  

  • Yellow skin
  • Yellow sclera (the white part of the eyes)

Other symptoms depend on the specific disorder.

 Signs and tests  

Physical examination will show jaundice and, possibly, liver swelling.

Specific tests vary, but may include liver function tests to determine how well the liver is working.

 Treatment  

All jaundice-associated conditions require medical diagnosis and treatment. In some cases, the only treatment needed may be observation, but ALWAYS consult with your health care provider.

 Expectations (prognosis)  

The outcome varies.

 Complications  

Complications vary, but can include life-threatening liver failure.

 Calling your health care provider  

Contact your health care provider if symptoms of jaundice develop.

 Prevention  

Prevention depends on the disorder that causes the jaundice.

Review date: 5/3/2007

Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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