Jaundice
Jaundice is yellowing of the eyes and skin caused by a build-up of bilirubin. It is a sign, not a disease, and can come from hepatitis, alcohol or medicine-related liver injury, blocked bile ducts from stones or tumours, or blood disorders. Adults with new jaundice should see a gastroenterologist promptly.
Symptoms
- Yellow eyes and skin
- Dark urine, pale stools
- Itching
- Fever or abdominal pain in some causes
How it is diagnosed
- Liver function tests and viral markers
- Ultrasound to check whether bile ducts are blocked
- MRCP, EUS or ERCP when a blockage is suspected
Treatment
- Depends on the cause: antivirals, stopping the harmful medicine or alcohol, or ERCP to relieve a blockage
Questions patients ask
Can jaundice be treated with home remedies?
Jaundice has many causes, some of them serious, so it should be properly tested. Delaying assessment for herbal remedies can allow treatable conditions to get worse.
Related care
- Liver clinicFatty liver, hepatitis B and C, cirrhosis and jaundice.
- ERCPEndoscopic treatment of the bile and pancreatic ducts: stone removal, stenting and sampling.
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)High-detail ultrasound from inside the gut to examine the pancreas, bile ducts and nearby organs, with biopsy.
Get jaundice checked
Book a consultation with Dr. Anil Kumar Mannava. No referral needed.